Fined for overstay in McDonald’s car park

A GREAT-grandmother from Shepshed was handed a parking fine for staying 11 minutes too long at a McDonald’s after an issue in the fast food outlet delayed her meal.

Jacqui Parry-Seal, 73, received a ticket after a visit to the golden arches at Fosse Park in Leicester on April, 5.

She was meeting her daughter, granddaughter and great-grandchildren at the restaurant.

When they first tried to order meals they were told there was a problem with the water supply in the branch, so some items on the menu were not available. This meant going back to their table and checking what different food the kids wanted to eat, then queuing again.

They went their separate ways after their meals and by then Mrs Parry-Seal had been in a parking space for 101 minutes.

The time limit at the car park is 90 minutes.

A fine of £100, or £50 if paid within 14 days, was sent to her home in Shepshed, by an independent company responsible for car park enforcement.

“I can’t deny it or dispute it,” she said.

“It does state 11 minutes on the form. But we wouldn’t have been there that long had they not been messing about with the food.”

Concerned by the prospect of the fine going large, Mrs ParrySeal, has paid the £50 and now wants to be reimbursed.

A letter, sent to her in response, said: “I trust you will appreciate that in order to maintain a consistent approach, we have to adhere to the guideline in place.

“As such, in a situation such as a contravention of parking regulations, we are unable to deal with any specifics or cases on an individual basis.”

A spokesperson for McDonald’s has also suggested the matter now lies with the third-party parking firm.

The parking company which issues the ticket, Met Parking, was contacted, but has not responded.