Cheshire: NHS worker fined £100 after parking at Home Bargains

Winsford resident Emily Denton was left ‘frustrated’ after receiving the hefty parking charge after pulling up outside Home Bargains at Wharton Retail Park.

Emily stopped for a little more than five minutes as she tidied herself up after spilling a drink.

She said: “I’m so frustrated with how I have been treated.

“I spilled a hot drink all over myself when leaving McDonald’s and the safest place to stop was in the Home Bargains car park where I wouldn’t cause an accident or obstruction.

“I didn’t turn my engine off; I just took the empty cup to the bin. It was an innocent accident and look how much it’s cost me.”

Emily added: “I work for the NHS and work very hard and don’t often treat myself and this happens when I do.

“It is just very sad companies can do this to innocent hard-working people for the sake of five minutes to address my burnt legs and mess in my car.”

Emily Denton (Image: Supplied)

Emily parked up at Home Bargains at 7.03am on Friday, September 20, when the store was closed. She left five minutes and 45 seconds later.

Unbeknownst to her, an Automatic Number Plater Recognition (ANPR) system had detected when her vehicle entered and left the car park.

Parkingeye, which operates the site, say that motorists are given a five-minute ‘consideration period’ during which they will not be charged.

As Emily had overstayed this by 44 seconds, she was handed a £100 fine - issued on October 17.

Emily has appealed the fine and is awaiting a response.

A Parkingeye spokesperson said: “The car park at Wharton Retail Park in Winsford is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has 11 prominent and highly-visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.   

“Motorists are advised on the car park rules, the times parking is permitted, 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays, and that parking is strictly prohibited outside of those times. 

“The motorist parked in the car park during the prohibited times while also exceeding the consideration period and therefore received a parking charge.

“Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.

"If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing to Parkingeye.”

The parking charge sent to Emily (Image: Supplied)

Parkingeye were asked why a barrier has not been installed to prevent motorists from parking on the site outside of opening hours.

However, the company failed to address this question in their response.