‘Fined £100 for asking directions’

CHARGE FOR PULLING UP TO SEEK HELP EVENTUALLY DROPPED BY THE AIRPORT

A 94-YEAR-OLD was hit with a £100 fine after he pulled over to ask where he could park his car.

Leslie Coleman, pictured, of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said he was very unhappy with the way he was treated by East Midlands Airport.

The former miner appealed the decision but was unsuccessful, until the Nottingham Post got involved.

Leslie arrived at the airport at 1pm on November 23 to pick up his son, who was flying in from Alicante.

He said: “I came to go into the airport and turned right at the island and went to see if there was a place to park.

“It was all red lines so I turned around and as I came out I saw a white van on some waste ground.

“I parked at the side of him and said ‘Could you tell me where is the best place to park?.’ “He said ‘Go down to the island and use the Jury Inn hotel and park there.’”

But days later, he received a £100 parking fine for his exchange.

“It is a disgrace,” he said. “I am disgusted with it. It made me worry. I was not parking on the road. I think it is a money-making exercise.”

His son, Philip, a bus driver, said: “He has not been to the airport for 40 years and did not know where to park. He just stopped and asked. It is a total injustice.

“It was a £100 fine. We went to appeal and it was turned down. It is daylight robbery. It is a lot of money for anyone when it is an injustice.

“It is good that they have cancelled it. I am very pleased but what about other people?”

East Midlands Airport said as a gesture of goodwill it was going to cancel the ticket.

A spokesman said: “The safety of people visiting East Midlands Airport

is of paramount importance and controlling the traffic flow across the airport site is key to this.

“Vehicles waiting in undesignated parking areas when dropping off and collecting passengers not only cause congestion, but are dangerous to both drivers and pedestrians.

“For this reason, red-routed roads are enforced and no stopping signage is clearly visible.

“On this occasion, as a gesture of goodwill to Mr Coleman, we have cancelled the parking fine.

“All drivers dropping off and collecting passengers at East Midlands Airport are advised to use the designated car parks and drop-off facilities.

“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, from April to October, one hour’s free parking can be had in Long Stay 2.”