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NOT FINE

I was fined £70 for parking 24 minutes over the limit after shopping with my disabled wife & daughter

A DAD has told how he was fined £70 for parking 24 minutes over the limit after shopping with his disabled wife and daughter.

Bob Blenkinsop’s family overstayed the three hour free hour parking because his wife, who uses a mobility scooter, had to use the bathroom.

Bob Blenkinsop was hit with a £70 parking fine
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Bob Blenkinsop was hit with a £70 parking fineCredit: BPM
Bob Blenkinsop said his wife and daughter spent a small fortune on Christmas presents at Coventry's Central Six Retail Park
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Bob Blenkinsop said his wife and daughter spent a small fortune on Christmas presents at Coventry's Central Six Retail ParkCredit: BPM

She had been been helped by their daughter, who is also disabled, and then the family had to pack the scooter into the car.

They had spent £1,500 at Coventry's Central Six retail park on November 24 2021 - but were slapped with a £70 for staying late.

Bob told : "It took 3 hours 20 minutes by the time they got the scooter back in the car and it was a three hour limit, eventually they were ready to go, my wife had to go to the toilet, and had to go back into Boots which took further time.

"The actual fact that they spent over £1,500 between them should negate any time constraints because they are doing retail a lot of good.

"I wrote back and challenged the fine, I got no sympathy whatsoever, no allowance for disability, if you are over the three hours you are going to get fined."

Now Bob is challenging the dine from parking company G24, who operate the Central Six Retail car park.

He explained: "They sent back a second letter demanding the fine, I am just ignoring it.”

He has been contacting the company - but is yet to speak to someone that will hear him out.

The charge would have been £42 if paid within 14 days of issue, but has now risen to £70.

Bob said: "[G24] are so outrageously greedy that they would fine someone for spending money in their retail park, it is ridiculous.

"I would rather shop somewhere else".

He added: "I understand there could be a problem of people overstaying by the time limit as commuters could be using it free of charge, if anybody is justifiably shopping in their centre, even if they spend a fiver, I would think there should be no time limit."

The Sun has approached G24 for comment.

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