Well done to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and their stupid, overly complex parking (which seems to vary by the car park). I posted previously about getting a parking fine from them when I thought I was legally parked and when the signage was at fault. Of course, according to Tunbridge Wells, that’s not their fault:

“Thank you for your e-mail regarding the above Penalty Charge Notice that was issued to your vehicle while it was parked in Torrington car park.

“I have examined the grounds for your appeal and must inform you that, as shown on the large sign adjacent to the Southeastern Trains (ST) ticket machine from which you purchased your ticket, and on every exit door in the car park, the private bays where your ticket is valid are only the red bays belonging to ST, on the 3rd and 4th floor levels of the car park. A ST parking ticket is not valid for parking in a white Local Authority bay.

“To clear up any confusion, may I explain that the signage covering ST red bays, and ST tickets, machines and maintenance are entirely the responsibility of Meteor, which is the company operating on behalf of ST. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, beyond its contracted obligation to enforce the ST parking regulations in the car park, has absolutely no involvement with or authority over what are these private business matters. Any complaints or dissatisfaction with the signage or system of issuing ST day tickets for commuters should be made direct to Meteor Customer Services Section. Their telephone number is 0845.603 6197 (7 days).

“The Parking Attendant’s comprehensive notes show that your vehicle was displaying a ST ticket but was not parked in the correct private red bay area. It was instead parked in a white bay belonging to the Local Authority and was not displaying a valid pay-and-display ticket. I have therefore to inform you that the grounds for representation against the Penalty Charge Notice have not been established and your appeal is rejected. I am, however, able to accept the reduced rate of £30.00, provided that payment is received within fourteen days of the date of this letter. Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and addressed to the Parking Information Centre. Alternatively, you can pay via our website, www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk, or by credit/debit card on our dedicated payment line 01892 554094, which is open 23½ hours a day, 7 days a week (except between 5pm and 5:30pm when the system is closed for essential processing).

“Should this Penalty not be paid within the given time-scale, a ‘Notice to Owner’ subsequently will be sent to the registered owner/keeper of the vehicle. The registered owner/keeper will be given 28 days from receipt of the Notice either to pay the full charge of £60.00 or make formal appeal in writing on the Notice, which the Council will be under a statutory obligation to consider. If the formal appeal is rejected, they will be sent the forms to allow them to appeal direct to the National Parking Adjudication Service, should they wish, for an independent ruling on the matter – which will be binding on all parties. There is no formal right of appeal to the adjudicators until the ‘Notice to Owner’ is issued and returned to us.”

So let’s just have a look at that, shall we?

“the Southeastern Trains (ST) ticket machine from which you purchased your ticket”

How does an unfortunate visitor to Tunbridge Wells know that this machine is supposedly a Southeastern Trains ticket machine, when all it says on it is “Parkeon” and (more particularly) “Central Parking System”?

Or:

“the large sign adjacent to the Southeastern Trains (ST) ticket machine”

That would be the large sign that says that railway day tickets can only be purchased from the South Eastern Trains entrance. We used the entrance to the car park and not to the station which was around the corner and down the road a way.

“To clear up any confusion, may I explain that the signage covering ST red bays, and ST tickets, machines and maintenance are entirely the responsibility of Meteor, which is the company operating on behalf of ST. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, beyond its contracted obligation to enforce the ST parking regulations in the car park, has absolutely no involvement with or authority over what are these private business matters.”

Meteor, eh? And who are they? Are they saying that Meteor are Parkeon or Central Parking System? Who knows?

And whose car park is it anyway? Are Tunbridge Wells Borough Council saying that they don’t own or operate the car park but are simply a private contractor like those clamping cowboys? They certainly seem to come across like the cowboy clampers. They also seem to be ignoring their County Council’s ticket cancellation policy – no suprise there.

“Alternatively, you can pay via our website, www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk“

Well I tried that, but after I’d finally found a link to the payment section it refused to allow me to make payment as it didn’t recognise the parking ticket number…

“or by credit/debit card on our dedicated payment line 01892 554094”

That’s what I had to do but having carefully entered “6000” for the payment amount the first time, the automated system thought I had entered 60p and it took two attempts for their system to recognise my debit card number.

So their payment systems are as useful as their parking facilities, then.

So congratulations, Tunbridge Wells. We will never again stay in or near Tunbridge Wells, not will we ever visit Tunbridge Wells, nor will we ever buy anything from anyone in Tunbridge Wells.

Or more succinctly, fuck you Tunbridge Wells!


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