Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones furious after £60 parking fine over 12 MINUTE stay
GREAT Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones erupted at a local golf club after they whacked him with a £60 fine - for staying just 12 MINUTES in their car park.
The teed-off potter had only pulled in to Trentham Golf Club in Stoke-on-Trent to give a radio interview before the charge.
Keith later took to Twitter after becoming enraged how Smart Parking - who run the car park - refused to waive the penalty charge despite his appeal.
He told how he had pulled in to the private car park at around 3.40pm on March 7 - the day after the final of his show was shown on Channel 4 - for a phone interview with BBC Radio Shropshire.
Keith says the car park was almost empty when he stopped due to the pouring rain and finding nowhere else safe to pull over.
Nine signs at the Barlaston Old Road club clearly state details of a 10-minute grace period and instructions to "report to registration to validate your full and correct vehicle registration mark".
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If drivers fail to do this, they could be hammered with £100 fine, which would be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days of the date of issue.
But Keith insists he did not notice the signs due to the poor weather conditions.
He said: "I was there for 10 to 12 minutes at most and didn't even get out of the car."
Three weeks later he received the penalty charge notice and was so hacked off he called out the golf club on Twitter.
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He tweeted: "So…….I pull in @GolfTrentham to do a radio interview @BBCShropshire @BbcStoke as it was pouring with rain. The car park is virtually empty. I'm there for 10mins and I get a parking fine. Thanks Trentham Golf club as I promote @VisitStoke."
He also posted an archive picture of the car park - despite one of the parking rules signs being clearly visible in the photo.
He added: "I could understand it if I was obstructing someone or going for a three-hour session in the bar across the road, but I just pulled on to be safe.
"I would have thought that a bit of discretion would have resulted in it being dismissed."
I was there for 10 to 12 minutes at most and didn't even get out of the car
Keith Brymer Jones
The potty potter has paid the £60 charge he admits it "left me with a bitter feeling" and "feels so pathetic and petty".
Keith Brymer Jones found fame with The Great Pottery Throw Down which has run since 2015 on Channel 4.
A spokesperson for Trentham Golf Club said: "Trentham Golf Club regrets Mr Jones’ first experience of the golf club and the fact that, rather than discussing the matter with the general manager, he instead chose to comment on social media.
"Had he entered the clubhouse or the Professionals’ shop, he would have been reminded, as a guest, to enter his car registration number, which would have ensured that a fine would not have been issued.
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"There are no less than nine large signs informing members and visitors of the parking arrangements. Mr Jones must have driven past several of these signs as he entered and exited the club’s car park."
The Sun Online has approached Smart Parking for comment regarding the parking fine.
