Baffled mum to challenge 'unfair' parking fine
A BEMUSED mother is challenging a parking fine she incurred after being unable to buy a ticket while visiting Eden Court Theatre in Inverness.
Sara Ramsey parked in the adjoining Highland Council car park when she and her four-year-old son went to see a children’s show, Dinosaur Safari, on Sunday.
They arrived just before noon with 10 minutes to spare before the show started, but then discovered one corner of the car park – including a ticket machine – was taped off and another machine was out of order. She was informed by other theatre-goers that a third one was also out of action.
"There was a queue of harassed parents, us included, who all took photos of the broken machine and decided we might as well get on with the day," said Dr Ramsey, a urologist at Raigmore Hospital.
"We looked for a parking officer but there was none to be seen."
Nevertheless, when she returned to her car two hours later she and about 20 other people found they had been issued with £60 parking fines.
After spotting an official in the car park, she went to explain what had happened.
"We politely quibbled and were told we should have walked to an alternative paypoint in the next car park or phoned to report the fault," Dr Ramsey said.
She maintained the officer was hostile to the point of aggressive and she eventually walked away as she did not want her young son to get upset.
"Other people were clearly upset and annoyed," Dr Ramsey said.
"Does the council imagine that they were all deliberately disobedient about parking? You might get the odd chancer, but not this number.
"This is the first time I have ever had a parking ticket in Inverness."
Dr Ramsey said that although the fine would be reduced to £30 if she paid up quickly, she had decided to appeal it – risking having to pay the full amount if she is not successful.
A Highland Council spokeswoman said anyone who wanted to review or challenge a parking fine in the council area could do so online at www.highland.gov.uk/parking.
"If anyone has any concerns about our parking staff, they should phone the service centre on 01349 886606 or email parking@highland.gov.uk," she added.
