French firm runs 500 UK car parks

THE French-owned parking firm at the centre of the row is one of the world’s biggest and runs more than two million car parks in 750 cities in 16 countries.

The UK branch – Indigo Park Services – operates 500 car parks at hospitals, shopping centres, airports, universities and train stations .

It had a turnover of £24million last year – including £2.8million from just one hospital car park – but recorded a profit of just £265,800. Parent company Indigo filed profits of £7.9million in France.