A BOWERHILL resident has criticised the parking fines appeal process for failing to act with “compassion and understanding”.
Sue Tweedie was issued with a parking fine in April after using the Gateway Shopping Centre car park in Trowbridge.
Sue did not purchase a parking ticket for her stay, but has explained that she was unfamiliar with the area and was focussed on obtaining end-of-life medication for her father – whom she was caring for at home – from Boots, which was soon to close.
According to Sue, she was visiting Boots for the medication as a “last resort” after visiting five other pharmacies that afternoon with no success, and was “extremely anxious”, “flustered” and “panicking”.
After receiving the fine, Sue appealed to management company Smart Parking and POPLA, the independent appeals service for parking charge notices issued on private land, explaining the “exceptional circumstances”.
However, Smart Parking turned down Sue’s appeal, explaining that they acknowledge the personal circumstances that led to the contravention, but could not rescind the fine on this basis.
POPLA’s review of the case has also found that the charge should be upheld on this occasion.
In response Sue said, “We live in a troubled world where sadly it appears in this instance that profit and rules override kindness and caring.
“As a business it should not all be about keeping to the rules and recovering money. The company has the free will and power to make an exception. If my case does not constitute “exceptional circumstances” then heaven only knows what will.
“We live in unprecedented times where all life on our planet is threatened and business growth and profit needs to take second place . If we as a species are to survive we must become kinder, more understanding and have compassion for all creation.”
