An irate driver received a £100 penalty for exceeding the parking limit by seven minutes outside a restaurant while checking the menu on his phone.
Christian Wolstencroft, aged 52, was contemplating his lunch choices at OK Diner in Leominster, Herefordshire, when he got a call informing him that his elderly mother had been rushed to the hospital. He swiftly drove home to prepare for a trip to see his 82-year-old mother in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Surprisingly, two weeks later, he was issued a £100 fine by Smart Parking Ltd for overstaying in the car park. Surveillance footage captured Christian’s black Porsche entering the parking area at 3:47 pm on September 30 and exiting 17 minutes later at 4:04 pm. Refusing to pay the penalty, Christian criticized the parking company for its lack of empathy.
Explaining the situation, Christian stated that he had visited OK Diner multiple times before and was eager for a late lunch. Upon arriving at the car park, he checked the menu on his phone to expedite his order upon entering the restaurant. However, his plans changed when he received news about his mother’s hospitalization.
Despite being seven minutes over the ten-minute grace period due to making calls and organizing his trip, Christian felt shocked upon receiving the penalty notice. Expressing his disappointment with the lack of understanding from the parking company, he vowed never to return to the establishment.
Since April of the previous year, customers have a ten-minute window to park and register their vehicle with the staff. Christian’s delay was attributed to browsing the menu in his car, causing him to exceed the grace period by seven minutes.
Smart Parking Ltd defended the rules as a measure to prevent parking abuse and ensure sufficient parking for genuine customers. They emphasized the importance of reviewing the terms and conditions before parking on the private property, noting the absence of free parking between 9 pm and 9 am at OK Diner.
Dafydd Lawrie, the director of OK Diner, highlighted significant parking challenges with non-customers and reiterated the presence of clear signage communicating the parking restrictions.