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Hi everyone,
First post here so please be gentle. I'll try to keep it as brief as I can, but apologies if I ramble on a bit.
During August, I had some time off work & decided to take my wife out for a drink in Portishead.
We decided where to go & headed off in my new car.
The pub is located near the marina in Portishead, and it was about 21:00 and dark when we pulled into an area where other cars were parked, so I parked, we had a couple of drinks and went home.
I have just received a "Parking Charge Notice" from ParkingEye saying that I arrived at 20:52 & left at 22:31. They also stated that it is private land and I need a permit/authorisation to park there.
It is a £100 fine or £60 within 14 days.
I am also expecting another fine as we went back for another drink a week or so later, thinking that it was just an area that we could park without any issues.
I drove there last night to check the signs (as they said that the signage is clearly displayed at the entrance & throughout the car park) and noticed that yes, there is a sign at the large entrance area and a couple of other signs that are near a chained off area within the "car park".
The signs were not lit throughout the car park, and as it was dark, I couldn't see any of them. Obviously, if I HAD seen them, I would not have parked there, and looking at the signs, all bar one make it appear that they are referring to the 'chained off area' within the car park.
I have been told by work colleagues that I should say that a) I was visiting somebody who lives there, b) offer to pay £10 as a reasonable amount for parking for 90 minutes, or c) ignore it totally.
What should I do, as like I said, I have been there twice with my wife & can't really afford to get another fine?
Any advice on what to do within the timescale would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks
Ian
First post here so please be gentle. I'll try to keep it as brief as I can, but apologies if I ramble on a bit.
During August, I had some time off work & decided to take my wife out for a drink in Portishead.
We decided where to go & headed off in my new car.
The pub is located near the marina in Portishead, and it was about 21:00 and dark when we pulled into an area where other cars were parked, so I parked, we had a couple of drinks and went home.
I have just received a "Parking Charge Notice" from ParkingEye saying that I arrived at 20:52 & left at 22:31. They also stated that it is private land and I need a permit/authorisation to park there.
It is a £100 fine or £60 within 14 days.
I am also expecting another fine as we went back for another drink a week or so later, thinking that it was just an area that we could park without any issues.
I drove there last night to check the signs (as they said that the signage is clearly displayed at the entrance & throughout the car park) and noticed that yes, there is a sign at the large entrance area and a couple of other signs that are near a chained off area within the "car park".
The signs were not lit throughout the car park, and as it was dark, I couldn't see any of them. Obviously, if I HAD seen them, I would not have parked there, and looking at the signs, all bar one make it appear that they are referring to the 'chained off area' within the car park.
I have been told by work colleagues that I should say that a) I was visiting somebody who lives there, b) offer to pay £10 as a reasonable amount for parking for 90 minutes, or c) ignore it totally.
What should I do, as like I said, I have been there twice with my wife & can't really afford to get another fine?
Any advice on what to do within the timescale would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks
Ian
(he's great at things like this)
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