Company that issued fine to driver not backing down

THE firm which issued a £100 fine to a driver who parked inches outside the lines in a near empty car park doesn’t appear to be backing down over the penalty.

John Fannon, 40, was left fuming after being slapped with the charge when an eagle-eyed traffic warden noticed the rear wheel of his black Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 was left marginally outside the designated space.

The IT worker was hit with the ticket during a family shopping trip to the Decathlon store at Arena Park Shopping Centre in Coventry on Wednesday, February 15.

But, although Mr Fannon admits his vehicle was not parked fully in the bay, he insists the ticket was harsh as the car park was nearly empty. He said he had parked further across to avoid hitting doors on nearby metal bollards and had chosen the space nearest to the store because it had started to rain. But Park Watch, the company which issued the ticket, appeared unsympathetic to Mr Fannon’s plight when asked by the Telegraph if the firm felt the penalty was unfair. A spokesman for Park Watch said: “I can confirm that the terms and conditions of parking at the Arena Shopping Park requires users of parking bays to park within the white lines of the parking bay. “There are in excess of 100 parking information signs from the entrance to the site and within the Arena Car Park displaying the terms and conditions of parking. “In order to accommodate all vis- itor vehicles it is imperative that parking correctly within the bays is followed.

“We can confirm that the PCN has been appealed and the appellant will be informed of the out- come of the appeal in due course.”

Mr Fannon, from Market Harborough, says he regularly makes the trip to Arena Park while visiting family.

But the IT worker says the experi- ence will put him off returning to the retail park in the future.

Mr Fannon said he wanted to make other drivers aware of his issue to enable others to avoid receiving similar fines.

There are in excess of 100 parking information signs from the entrance to the site and within the Arena Car Park displaying the terms and conditions of parking Park Watch