System is better than you think

I would like to express my views and concerns over an article in the September 5 PA about Smart Parking.

Having read the article a couple of times I find it hard to fathom why Rosalind Robb has the need to complain or even make an issue regarding her problem considering she admits from the start that she was wrong.

I quote:“The mum of two admits she failed to pay for the full amount for her stay.”

She also reckons that the system is unfair as it relies on the motorist remembering what time they arrived so they can work out how much they need to pay upon leaving.

I use the car park on a regular basis and even I have noticed and read the signage.

There are also two extra notices on each ticket machine informing you to make note of the time you arrive as you require this to allow you to calculate your length of stay for you to pay the correct amount of tariff, so are we to assume she didn’t check the signage, notices, or even look at the machines until she returned and noticed her mistake which lead to her error.

She also states, and again I quote:“They don’t give you a ticket with the time going in and they don’t give you a ticket when you’re coming out”.

Again she is wrong on this part. Firstly as I assume she chose to pay on return (leaving), she wouldn’t need to be given a ticket as all she is required to do is remember her arrival time (which she didn’t do). Secondly she will have been issued a ticket when she paid for her parking on return, which I again assume she did do so as she admitted at the start she didn’t pay enough - the ticket is also a receipt and proof of payment.

If she had read the signage or even approached a staff member with her concerns they would have been only to happy to assist her, as I myself have done so in the past. It also states on the signage you can pay for your parking at any point before leaving the car park with your vehicle. You can also pay for some of your parking on arrival and the remainder when you return to leave (top up).

I see hundreds of members of the public using this car park every day without issue and on the odd occasion some of them asking for assistance from staff and receiving it.

Do we now live in a society where we need to be told everything or have everything done for us, whereas just saying“can you help me please, I’m not sure what to do”goes a long way to solve our problems.

I admit the system isn’t perfect but it works and gives members of the public like myself a wider scope for paying. The old pay and display system was ok but you either paid for more parking than you needed, or you didn’t pay enough and had to leave, which wasn’t very good if you were out for a meal with family or friends and had to cut it short because your time was running out. This system gives you the choice to pay for all of your parking on arrival if you know how long you will be, some of your parking on arrival, enjoy your meal or whatever you were doing as a family or with friends and pay for the rest on return, or even if you choose, you can pay for all your parking when you return, remembering to note your arrival time.

My feelings are if she had asked for assistance in the first place she wouldn’t of even had an issue . Ian Black

Letham