Picking up fines with your parcel

[POSTMAN]

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PARKING wardens were last night accused of preying on Royal Mail customers at one of Oxford’s main collection offices.

Royal Mail customers have been landed with £90 tickets after finding parking spaces full at the East Oxford Delivery Office in Littlemore.

Politicians have vowed to intervene in the row after being contacted by angry Royal Mail customers.

One motorist said: “I wasn’t parked on the yellow lines when I went to collect a parcel from the Post Office.

“But I got a ticket placed on my windscreen for £90 within the space of two minutes of arriving. They are predatory and profiteering.”

He said it was a “disgrace” and called for something to be done.

Another ticketed driver said: “The parking attendant is standing out on the road and ticketing everyone who goes there. I was in the collection office for less than two minutes.”

The Nuffield Industrial Estate, off Sandy Lane West in Littlemore, is owned by property investment company Eskmuir Group.

The firm would not say if the UK Parking Control parking wardens were acting on its behalf but a spokesman added staff were “looking into the issue”.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Obviously the parking attendants have got a job to do but I will be taking this up with UK Parking Control.

“The Post Office is a public service facility and this is an unsatisfactory situation. I have been down there myself to pick up post and it is very difficult to park. It puts people in an impossible position.”

The Royal Mail office car park in Ledgers Close has 17 spaces for members of the public, including two for disabled drivers.

But motorists said these were often full. All other parking spaces on the estate are for other businesses and their customers but staff there said overspill was also affecting them.

Lyn Stockford, of Sally Hair and Beauty Supplies, said: “Having the parking attendant is a good thing because it helps lorries get through.

“But it’s not fair on the Royal Mail customers that they can’t always park and I would like to see a bigger car park.”

Royal Mail said it did not hold figures for how many people used the delivery office or how much post it handled.

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed the estate was private land and not subject to public parking enforcement. It is also home to delivery company Yodel, PTS Plumbing Trade Supplies, TLC Electrical Distribution, City Plumbing Supplies, Transglobal Sports Ltd, Frenco Service Replacements Ltd, Sally Hair and Beauty Supplies and bakery Queen of Hearts.

The fines are £90, but are reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Local county councillor Saj Malik also said he would write to UK Parking Control.

UK Parking Control spokesman Kate Harrison said: “We operate on Nuffield Industrial Estate to ensure that all tenants have full use of the parking facilities and that the access roads are kept clear for deliveries.

“The estate’s parking facilities have been taken up by unauthorised users for some time, which in turn was effecting the business of the tenants.”

Royal Mail spokesman Valerie Antoine said: “We would like to remind customers visiting the delivery office by car to ensure they comply with local parking restrictions.”

When asked if she was concerned Royal Mail’s customers were being put in an “impossible situation”, she refused to comment further.

[POSTMAN]

Parking problems must be sorted out

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THE area around the Royal Mail delivery office must be a honey pot for parking wardens.

What they get at Ledgers Close is lots of motorists cornered in a confined space under pressure to pick up their mail.

Anyone who has been to the delivery office will know from experience that it is, at best, tricky to park.

At worst it is impossible, and motorists who have taken time out of their day to pick up a parcel sometimes have no choice but to leave their cars on the side of the road.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith is absolutely correct when he says the situation is putting customers in an impossible situation.

It is not the parking wardens’ fault.

Nor indeed is UK Parking Control to blame. After all, it is private land and they are simply contracted to do the work they do.

Most would agree that this industrial has parking issues, and access to other businesses must be a problem.

But this situation is set apart by the fact the Royal Mail is a public body offering a public service.

Postal bosses and other community leaders must use all their powers to sort this issue out.

It is totally unfair to punish taxpayers who – through no fault of their own – find themselves with little choice but to break the rules.

[mazza111]

So if it's private ground it's not a legal parking ticket. Ignore and they will go away. All they can do is invoice you. They don't have the authority to fine you. Although, when people don't know this then it can be a worrying time for them

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Council chief says: 'Don't pay your fines' - He must have read Mazzas' Post.

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County council leader Keith Mitchell has hit out at private parking enforcement firms.

On Monday, the Oxford Mail reported on the anger caused by private parking enforcement outside Royal Mail’s East Oxford delivery office in Littlemore.

Mr Mitchell – whose the council is responsible for enforcing car parking on public highways – said some firms have no basis for demanding money on private land.

The body which represents Britain’s parking sector denied this, saying motorists enter into a contract when they drive into a private car park.

Mr Mitchell said: “What private companies issue is not an official penalty charge notice and I don’t think it has any legal basis.”

UK Parking Control, the company which enforces parking on the Nuffield Industrial Estate off Sandy Lane West, says its charges follow guidelines set out by the British Parking Association (BPA).

A BPA spokesman said: “The majority of tickets issued on private land are done so under the law of contract.

“As a motorist enters a site and decides to leave his vehicle there, he has entered a ‘contract’ with the landowner which is outlined on the signs.

“Any guidance given to simply ignore a parking charge notice would be inadvisable as operators can and will take motorists to court.”

Mr Mitchell said: “If you ignore the fine then nine times out of 10 they go away.”

But he added: “You need a bit of nerve to do it.”

[mazza111]

Should do it with all parking fines from private companies including these ones in out of town shopping areas that charge you for going over 2 hours or whatever. Just don't ignore the ones from the council