Key Points of Ambiguity:
1.
Parking Usage Hours:
i. The sign states, "For use by Saltburn Cricket Club patrons only between 11pm - 8am - tariffs apply outside of these times."
ii. This suggests that club patrons are only permitted to use the car park between 11pm and 8am, implying they might be prohibited from using it outside of these hours.
2.
Tariffs for Club Patrons:
i. The tariffs are listed without specifying whether they apply to club patrons if they park outside the 11pm-8am window.
ii. It’s unclear if club patrons must pay the tariff if they park between 8am and 11pm.
3.
Visitor Registration:
i. The sign instructs "visitors" to enter their vehicle registration number (VRM) upon arrival to obtain a permit, but it’s not clear whether this is for any parking time or just for parking outside the 11pm-8am window.
ii. The distinction between "visitors" and "patrons" is not clearly defined, adding to the confusion.
4.
Payment Obligation:
It’s unclear whether entering the VRM is in addition to paying the tariff or if it serves as a substitute for it.
Potential Issues Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015:
1.
Section 68 – Transparency:
The ambiguity around when patrons need to pay and how the VRM registration fits into the parking rules could be seen as a failure to provide terms in a clear and intelligible manner.
The lack of clarity regarding the conditions under which patrons versus visitors need to pay or register their vehicles could lead to misunderstandings and disputes.
2.
Fairness (Section 62):
If the terms are not clear, consumers could be unfairly penalised for not complying with terms that they did not fully understand or that were not clearly communicated.
The differentiation between "patrons" and "visitors" and how it affects their obligations, could be seen as creating an imbalance if it leads to unexpected charges.
Conclusion:
The sign has ambiguities that could lead to confusion about when parking tariffs apply to club "patrons" versus "visitors" and what actions are required (e.g., entering the VRM in a terminal). The potential for misunderstanding makes these terms problematic under the transparency requirements of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
To resolve this, the sign would need to clearly distinguish:
The difference between "patrons" and "visitors."
Whether patrons need to pay tariffs during the day.
Whether VRM registration is required in addition to payment or under specific conditions.