Visitors and local residents using council owned pay and display carparks in Penrith were left out of pocket last week on Bank Holiday Monday after pay-and-display machines run by Westmorland and Furness Council refused to honour the council’s own advertised £1.30 all-day rate for Bank Holidays.
Clear signage across the council owned and operated car parks in Penrith shows the councils set charges as approved by full council each year as part of the council charges setting and budget. A Sunday and Bank Holiday rate to park all day for just £1.30 is advertised. But when locals and visitors to Penrith last week on Bank Holiday Monday tried to buy tickets, the machines demanded the full weekday price instead.
One visitor to Penrith last week who used the council owned Sandgate car park told Penrith.town News they were baffled when the machine refused to issue the discounted ticket and they ended up paying £6.10 as they planned to spend the day in Penrith and did not want a parking fine.
“It kept asking me for more money. I thought Bank Holidays were meant to be cheaper, but it just wouldn’t let me pay the price the sign says,” they said.
The blunder has sparked outrage, with some accusing the council of misleading the public. Community group Evolve Penrith, who are compiling a report into the town’s troubled parking system, said the issue was widespread across multiple car parks.
A spokesperson warned the fiasco could even amount to a trading standards breach:
“The council is clearly advertising one price while charging another. That’s not just confusing – it’s potentially unlawful.”
Evolve Penrith said they will be raising the matter formally with the council and flagging it with Trading Standards.
When asked last week for comment on the situation Westmorland and Furness Council said it would “look into the situation” – but since then has providing no comment, or update in the situation.
Local traders Penrith.Town spoke with about the issues said ”It sends out the wrong message to visitors, leaving them feeling ripped off before they’ve even set foot in the town centre”.
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