My mother and I received penalty charge notices at the Redoubt care park (aka Treasure Island car park) on 19/08/23 (during Airbourne where thousands of visitors flock to Eastbourne).
We had arranged an afternoon at Treasure Island soft-play with the children (a place we visit frequently). Upon entering the car park, it was clearly extremely busy. We spotted a family walking to their car and asked if they were going, they advised they had only just got there, but suggested parking opposite them 'as a car had just this minute left and they had plenty of room'. So, myself and my mother (in her car) parked opposite the families' car (see last photo of 'mums car' - VDP 671 with drivers door open), and our 11 year old son went to buy two pay and display tickets from the pay machines for us.
Upon returning to the car (after a really enjoyable couple of hours), we saw we had both received a parking ticket. I immediately thought this was a mistake as we had paid and displayed, but then saw the fine was for 'parking out of bays'. I've lived in Eastbourne all my life, and never have I heard of such a thing. There were cars parked 'out of bay' all over the car park (see photo) - however, they all parked responsibly and considerately, leaving plenty of room for other cars to get our/by.
I drove round the car park and didn't see one mention of having to park in lined bays. I just presumed, like in other car parks, you parked anywhere which wasn't disabled and meant you parked with due care and consideration. The only signs visible were 'have you paid and displayed' (see photo') - which we had (please see attached).
I've since found that the ONE mention of having to park in designated bays was on the pay and display board (where my son bought the tickets) which isn't visible to everyone - it was also presumably blocked from view by another car parked infront of it (also 'out of bay').
I appealed to the council (who took over a month to respond to me) and they rejected my appeal saying:
Your appeal has been denied due to the fact that your vehicle was not parked in one of the designated parking bays.
The purpose of these bays is to ensure sufficient space for vehicles to maneuver within the parking area and to avoid obstructing emergency access, such as fire trucks, in the event of an emergency.
If the car park was full, it is recommended to explore alternative parking options. There are other convenient options available within a short walking distance of the Redoubt car park, including Fisherman's Green and Princes Park, as well as on-street parking (East Sussex County Council).[/b]
I then re-affirmed that my grounds for appeal (for both myself and my mother) saying:
My appeal centres around the lack of signage. There was nothing noted about parking within the bays upon entering the car park. The pay and display board (shown in your photo) is not clearly visible upon entering the car park (see attached), and as it was our son getting the tickets, it isn't something either of us saw.
I have lived in Eastbourne my entire life, as has my mum, and we have never received a ticket. We genuinely didn't consider the fact you would have to park in bays (as you don't in plenty of other council carparks).
To which I received the following reply:
I’m sorry that you are unhappy with my decision but it still stands and I do not uphold you appeal.
The 2 car parks mentioned (Friston Forrest and Cuckmere Haven) are East Sussex County Council sites and looking at the images on line they are completely different in rural locations with unmarked bays. The Redoubt car park is heavily used so we must monitor it closely. As a driver myself who uses this particular car park alot I’ve never seen people park outside the marked bays. With regards to adequate signage it’s a fine line between spoiling the view of a sea front car park and making everyone aware of their parking responsibilities. That is why the penalty charges are listed on the sign between the payment machines.
As for a sign when you come into the car park on the left hand side – as we both use this site frequently we know that very often coming off the main road into the car park is sometimes difficult due to volume of traffic and putting a sign on the left hand side as you enter the car park would encourage people to stop and read this and therefore hold up access to the car park. Also – there would be a H&S issue to this as the entrance to Treasure Island is also on the left so could it obscure the view if a child ran from the verge into the car park.
I’m confident that all of these factors were looked at during the time of the car park creation and discussed fully. I’m sorry that you are disappointed as you say you have never received a ticket before but I still uphold that there is sufficient signage when you purchase your tickets and the bays are clearly laid out – it is the drivers responsibility to be aware of the conditions and parking restrictions within each individual car park as I’m sure they differ for each location.
They've said, if I pay by tomorrow I can pay £27.50 (minus the £2.50 I paid to park), but after that it'll be £60. The same for my mum's ticket too.
We're a hard working family with three young children and it's a lot of money for us. I just feel it's so unfair. I wouldn't have parked there if i'd have known I was doing something wrong, and obviously wouldn't have bought a ticket.
p.s The listed my mum's car as black, but it's navy blue
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gHRMdKqnqba8aWFW8 - Redoubt car park
More photos and appeal responses:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17UcTzTLMbN8u_5cOdhUzvJ1QjoLYhDb4 [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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