I was slapped with £50 parking fine even though I was inside white line

A MUM has told how she was hit with a £50 fine even though she was parked inside the white lines.

Amanda Foxman was on a family day out in Heaton Park, Manchester when she was slapped with the hefty parking charge.

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Amanda, her husband and two kids aged 8 and 11 had left their car in the Garden Centre Car Park.

But when they arrived back to head home, they saw Manchester Council had issued them with a Penalty Charge Notice for parking beyond the bay markings.

She told Manchester Evening News: “We were visiting the park with the kids to see the squirrels.

“I had parked in what I thought was a standard bay spot and paid for my parking via the app. It was a really nice day but coming back to a parking fine wasn’t really part of the plan.”

Amanda says they had no idea they had used a prohibited parking space and believes the fine is “absolutely unacceptable”.

She explained: “There was a white line on the ground next to where I parked where the double yellow lines ended. I had thought this marked the end of the parking bay,

“The only thing I didn’t realise at the time is that the bay didn’t have a white T marking on the floor, like the other bays. 

“But I wasn’t obstructing anyone, I wasn’t causing any issues at all. There was nothing to say there was no parking.”

Amanda claims the signs were not clear enough – but when she wrote to the council they said this is because they are  designed as to ‘not detract from the natural beauty of the Park by creating an urban “highway” style environment’.

She fumed: “I think their response is absolutely nonsense to me.

“I understand they want to respect the beauty of the park, but I believe there still needs to be a sign or something making people aware that they will be fined if they park there.”

Amanda is now refusing to pay the penalty and claims the council are being “totally unreasonable”.

She explained. “Had I parked on a double yellow line, I would accept that I’d done something wrong but I paid for a ticket on the app and I don’t feel like I’ve done anything wrong.

“I would be pretty surprised if I am the only person who has fallen victim to this. I feel like someone has just taken the opportunity to fine me because they know they can.”

A spokesperson for Manchester Council said: “In all car parks administered by the Council there is clear signage indicating that motorists must park in designated bays in order for pay and display tickets to be valid. 

“In cases where this does not happen enforcement officers may issue a Penalty Charge Notice to drivers.

“A person issued with an PCN can make an appeal to the Council if they do not believe it was issued correctly.”