One DAD-OF-TWO was shocked to find he was fined £ 100 for leaving a parking lot to get some cash.
Denzil Fernandes was looking for a tent at Go Outdoors in Ocotal Way. His family is camping in the UK this summer after their vacation to Greece was canceled.
However, the 41-year-old, who lives near the city center, said he realized shortly after arriving at the UKPC-managed parking lot that he had left his wallet at home.
He said he went to a friend who was shopping at a nearby Tesco to borrow some money and left the parking lot for less than 10 minutes.
When he returned to his vehicle, he found a £ 100 parking ticket which can be reduced to £ 60 if paid within 14 days.
Drivers are not allowed to leave the site under UKPC rules.
Denzil said, “I was shocked so the first thing I tried to find someone was that there was no one there.
“So I went to Go Outdoors, they said that the terms and conditions say you shouldn’t leave the premises when the car is parked.
“I left the site to raise cash so I can spend the money in Go Outdoors. The only thing I did was wait in front of Tesco for my friend to come out.
“But my argument is that nowhere in their terms and conditions do they state what the definition of their site is, where is the map of the site? Where does it start and where does it end?
“There are no barricades or anything that prevents someone from just walking across the street.
“They (Go Outdoors) said there is nothing they can do in the parking lot because they don’t own it.”
Denzil said he will challenge the fine because he believes the situation has not been treated fairly.
The father of an eight- and ten-year-old said, “This is not fair. Someone is just chasing you and chasing you to see where you are going. ”
On the parking ticket that Denzil received, the reason is “Vehicle owner / driver has left the premises”.
Denzil said he will no longer shop at Go Outdoors and will find another place to buy his tent and other gear for this summer.
Similar incidents occurred last month when Neil Richardson of Chiseldon and Sue Vincent of Purton were handed parking tickets.
There is a sign in the parking lot: “Important: If you leave this area while this vehicle is in the parking lot, you may have to pay a parking fee.”
UKPC and Go Outdoors were asked to comment.
