Many fined have paid fee

YET more complaints against the private parking enterprise company, which operates in Stockport’s Peel Centre under the consent and the auspices of our local authority. (M.E.N, September 21).

When will Stockport council stop copping out by claiming that they have no authority to oversee this problematic company, which operates in their borough against the best interests of its citizens?

Local councils have a primary responsibility to serve their communities in their best interests and not to fob them off with claims that they are unable to control private companies.

The fact is, very few parkers deliberately attempt to defraud the parking company and the majority of those ‘fined’ will have paid accordingly for their time purchased, but may have made an understandable error in registering their details ‘correctly’ via the poorly lit and confusing key pads. The parking company will usually actually have received the necessary charge and will have in no way lost out financially.

It should be made illegal for any private parking company to claim that they are able to demand ‘fines.’ These ‘fines’ are actually only charges, for which one can demand an itemised invoice and can thus be disputed under civil law.

Local councils are aware of this and have a duty and a responsibility to advise their citizens accordingly. Unfortunately, lack of support from Stockport council for its citizens is resulting in them taking their custom elsewhere.

Mike Greaves, Heaton Moor