Families left facing £140 bill after cars were towed during Savoy Cinema trip
FAMILIES enjoying a trip to the cinema were left facing a £140 bill after their cars were towed.
Jayne Lloyd was among a number of people who left the Savoy cinema on Saturday and returned to Park Street to find her car was not where she had parked it.
The mother-of-two noted ‘No loading’ signs when she arrived but did not think they banned her from parking.
Nottingham City Council claims the notices have been at the site since February 23 advising people of the ban which has been in force since February 26. The council also said it did not start towing cars until February 27.
Come and Join us this evening FOR STEAK NIGHT and get a FREE...
Spaghetti Amore At The Old Volunteer
View detailsTonight is steak night at Spagehtti Amore so bring this voucher with you to get either a FREE PINT or GLASS OF HOUSE RED when ordering steak
Terms:
*terms and conditions apply
Selected drinks only
Please take voucher or quote thisisnottingham offer when calling
Contact: 0115 896 2165
Valid until: Tuesday, May 21 2013
When the Post visited Park Road on Tuesday, it discovered signs have been added since Saturday. The city council said it is not reponsible for those signs.
Mrs Lloyd, 37, of Mapperley, who was with her two five-year-old twins, said she has written to the council.
“The signage did not say no parking and there were no markings on the road to denote that we could not park there,” she said.
“There was no notification as to where the cars were. We were left stranded with two cold small children along with a number of other families with children with no idea what to do – I have never even had a parking ticket before.
“I am absolutely disgusted that the council could do this. People were actually sat on the road crying along with confused little children, many of whom didn't even have warm clothes on as they had been in the cinema.”
Mrs Lloyd said a number of other people also had their cars towed.
A city council spokesman said the council aims to give people as much notice of parking restrictions as possible.
“Signs notifying people of a temporary traffic order for Newark Street and Park Street went up on February 23rd,” he said.
“The order went into effect on February 26th and we didn’t start removing cars from the area until February 27th. The area that is affected is 47 metres in length and we have a sign telling people of the restrictions approximately every nine metres.
“Before we tow cars away we take a picture of where they are parked. We only tow cars from within this area where cars are parked near clearly displayed signs.”
Were you affected by the parking restrictions near the Savoy? Contact Jayne Garfitt on 0115 905 1956 ot at jayne.garfitt@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
17 Comments
View all
by Geoff_Wode
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:52PM
“"I believe all they need is the High Way Code for their evidence."
Thanks for that insight @andmikel. But I think you'll find, that if these 'outraged motorists' had properly studied their Highway Code in the first place, then they would have probably heeded the big yellow signs that clearly show a no waiting restriction along with stating no loading.
It's very sad your children were cold, but perhaps now you can teach them a life lesson about 'taking responsibility for your own actions'; rather than just bleating about how unfair it is that you were too ignorant to pay attention.”
by brorabrora
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:44PM
“If these were temporary restrictions due to building work, I'd have thought that those yellow ''no Parking'' cones should have been placed along the kerb edge, as well as the notices.”
by digbypatch
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:22PM
“If these motorists register on this forum http://tinyurl.com/8unmx24 They will get help to see if the regulations and the towing of the cars away was done correctly.”
by FormerlyW
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 9:20PM
“Oh good grief. Of course the person responsible for towing away these cars didn't take his lead from the behaviour of councillors, and of course it is legal to set temporary parking restrictions with signs other than double yellow lines.”
by andmikel
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 9:01PM
“This is a job's worth employee who takes the lead from the dubious actions of the political leadership. The road should have had double yellow lines if parking was forbidden as it is a public highway and the legal niceties have to be be obeyed. Non conventional signage is illegal. The best that those affected could do is join together in a class action and take the Council to court to reclaim their fine and claim damages for the inconvenience caused. I believe all they need is the High Way Code for their evidence.”
by flatfoot
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 7:12PM
“Does anyone seriously believe the restrictions were put in place to fund the tram or fill the pockets of local councillors?
I'm not saying what's happened here is good and certainly it seems that people were confused by the signs, but some of the commentators here seem to assume that councillors are only concerned with bringing in onerous parking restrictions and fining people.
I suspect the truth is that councillors had nothing to do with the parking restrictions which were imposed by officers because of the demolition works being undertaken on the nearby flats and would probably agree that the towing away and charging £140 was excessive in the circumstances.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 7:10PM
“Another non-story brings the moronacracy out to play council-bashing. They are elected - get used to it!
And one cannot help but chuckle at the thought of anyone witless enought to get a parking ticket / car towed for breaking parking restrictions even being allowed to drive on the public highway! I blame the Tories for letting this happen on their watch. What are the government playing at allowing these people to have driving licences? Is it because it raises cash for the Tory government to give tax breaks to millionaires?
As for this quote, " We were left stranded with two cold small children along with a number of other families with children with no idea what to do...", again ought this person to be allowed on the road? And have charge of children?
The obvious thing to have done in the circumstances would have been to cross the road and catch a bus into town from the stop opposite the Savoy, and then if necessary catch a bus in Nottingham city centre back to Mapperley. And once home and your children are warm, then find out what had happened to your illegally parked vehicle!”
by the-crossed
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 6:09PM
“@majoroak........That's the trouble...Labour have held the reins of power for so long in this city that they actually believe it is their God given right to do exactly as they please.
Maybe the fact that some people previously in receipt of 100% council tax rebate will now have to start paying a small proportion of it will erode some of their core vote but I doubt it will be enough to remove their grubby fingers from the pockets of the citizens of Nottingham.
Nottingham desperately needs a change of leadership but sadly I don't see it coming anytime soon.
Oh well, at least Collins will be off on his bike ride soon so at least we will be shut of him for a short while.”
by majoroak
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:42PM
“when will this 'elected' City Coucil get into their 'heads' that they are indeed our SERVANTS!”
by brorabrora
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:42PM
“Why were they towed anyway, and not just ticketed, as is normal? More revenue involved, obviously.”