Driver fined at airport as he waited for barrier to open
A DRIVER has been left furious after he was fined at East Midlands Airport while waiting for the car park barrier to let him in.
Nigel Wright was fined £100 for stopping in a ‘no stopping zone’ while he waited to get into the short stay car park at the airport - in what is the latest in a series of complaints about parking fines there.
The 34-year-old says he was forced to wait for half a minute while getting to the token machine and waiting to be let inside when going to pick his parents up after their holiday, Derbyshire Live reports.
The English teacher says he was left confused after receiving a fine by Vehicle Control Services (VCS), which enforces parking at the site, as he made sure he paid for his visit.
The company claimed he had been fined for ‘stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited’.
VCS provided photographs which show Nigel’s Peugeot at a halt at the car park entrance as he waited for the barrier to open.
Nigel accused VCS of trying to “scam” him out of £100 and he has now appealed the fine with the company.
He claims they didn’t answer his pleas - but the airport said the firm would cancel the fine when approached for comment.
Nigel said: “I pulled up to the barrier and waited for it to open but soon realised it was not automatic.
“I wound my window down to reach for a token but the car was too far away.
“So I reversed the car back slightly and pulled up closer so I could reach the button to get the plastic coin.
“I entered the car park within about 35 seconds of first arriving at the barrier. It is nothing less than a scam. I could not believe it when I read the letter.”
Nigel visited East Midlands Airport on December 17 to pick up his elderly parents following their holiday to Spain.
They were ready and waiting when he arrived at around 1.30pm and he spent just 11 minutes in the car park before paying the £4 parking charge.
But 13 days later, Nigel received the PCN through the post ordering him to stump up £100 - or face legal action.
Parking enforcement company VCS offered Nigel a £40 discount on the fine if he paid promptly, but he said he refused to just accept the fine.
Nigel, who is from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, believes he was not in the wrong and lodged an official appeal with VCS.
He said: “It is quite confusing for drivers because there are no stopping signs everywhere.
“I was really careful so I was shocked when I received the fine, and surprised that I did anything wrong.
“I made sure I did not stop where I wasn’t supposed to. There seems to be a ridiculous level of enforcement there.
“I looked at the photos on the letter and saw they were fining me for being at the barrier. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Nigel lodged a complaint with VCS on January 2 and said he didn’t get a reply.
An East Midlands Airport spokesperson said: “It is clear that Mr Wright was attempting to enter the car park and should not have been penalised.
“Following his appeal, Vehicle Control Services (VCS), which enforces parking on red-routed airport estate roads, have cancelled the fine.
“We apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused him.
“The safety of people visiting East Midlands Airport (EMA) is of paramount importance and controlling the traffic flow across the airport site is key to this.
“For this reason, airport estate roads are red-routed and “no stopping” signage is clearly visible to discourage drivers from waiting in undesignated parking areas when dropping off and collecting passengers.
“All drivers have a choice of drop-off and pick-up parking at the airport. Ten minutes parking in rapid drop off costs £3, while 30 minutes in short stay 1 car park is £4.
“During the busier summer months (April to October), one hour’s free parking can be had in Long Stay 2.”
VCS were contacted for a statement.
East Midlands Airport has introduced fines for motorists seen picking up air passengers at the petrol station, as drivers have used the forecourt to avoid having to pay for the short stay car park.