OVER the past few months, the Gazette has reported a number of cases in which people have faced £100 fines after failing to see time limit signs at the short-stay car park at St Michael’s retail park.

Now, one man has said he will ‘make his point in court’ if that’s what it takes.

Scott Jackson, from Andover, visited Nando’s at the retail park in September where he had a meal with his partner. Whilst there, he parked in the enclave of ‘short-stay’ spaces near the restaurant - run by private firm PCM UK Ltd - for around 50 minutes, because he did not see the sign.

On receiving the fine through the post a week later, Scott immediately logged on to the parking company’s online portal and appealed it, but this was rejected.

“I am trying to get my point across, but I just keep getting these bog-standard, copy-and-paste replies back,” the 28-year-old told the Gazette.

Scott said they used “legal jargon” stating that he “entered a contract” when he parked there.

He added: “How can I possibly enter a contract with a sign I didn’t see?”

Describing the day he received the fine, Scott said: “The main car park was pretty much empty. If I did see the signs, clearly I would have just parked in the main car park. 

“I don’t think I have a god given right, I would have parked twenty metres away in the main car park.

“I have been going to that retail park since it was created and never realised there was a difference in the parking limits, so why would I go looking for signage that says otherwise.

“It feels like entrapment. You put a nice convenient car park outside a restaurant - who sits in for half an hour?” 

Scott has spent the past five months trying to address the issue.

“It’s a stupid system, to be honest.  I have no intention to pay it,” he said.

Scott’s fine has now increased to £160, which he says is unfair as the “ticking clock” doesn’t allow time for people to appeal. A solicitor has contacted him and told him that the cost of going to court would increase this further. 

“If it goes to court, I know I will lose, but it just seems to be passing from agency to agency. 

“I will go to court - I can admit defeat and lose £160, or have my say and lose £260. Either way I will lose money.

“Since then, they have put more signs up, so I said clearly that shows the original signs were not enough, but they’re still enforcing the fines.”

Scott said he has spoken to many of the surrounding businesses, and the manager at Nando’s told him he had received so many complaints that he asked his staff to go out themselves and stick laminated signs to lampposts, warning customers of the limit. 

He has also been in touch with the retail park’s landowner, who he feels is partly responsible.

“The landowner has employed them [PCM UK Ltd], so they can say that it is unfair.

“I said to them, how can you be enforcing this when I’m sure your businesses are already struggling? 

“I like to go there to have a browse around the shops, and it's our nearest Nando's. I haven’t been back there since and I won’t go back. Salisbury is going to have to be our new one now!”

The Gazette has contacted PCM UK Ltd and the landowner for comment.