Author Topic: Smart Parking - parking without correct authorisation (but vehicle never parked) - Salt Bar Harrow  (Read 74 times)

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Hi all,
I received the below notice over the Christmas break.



https://ibb.co/kgbWn8Rj
https://ibb.co/WvT7B4Wv


This vehicle was not parked in this car park for the week the notice is claiming and in fact never fully entered the car park at all.


To explain further. This car park is a small one for a bar that is at the end of a narrow road with a no exit rule. The drop curb at the entrance to the car park is often used by vehicles to turnaround because of this as there is very tight space to turn.

On both of the occasions shown in the image the driver turned the van around as described and went partially back up the road to park outside where I live. To be clear the van never even entered the car park.

I used this van between those dates when this notice claims it was parked in the car park for commuting to work.

Questions from me, how to best challenge this? How to prove the negative that it was never parked there. I personally don't even see how these images prove it was parked as they are dark, unclear, both show the front of the van not even in the car park properly.

At the risk of a fact sounding like ranting, it's also a tiny car park so the chance of a vehicle being there a week without the staff noticing is quite improbable. Most importantly it was never parked there.

I have asked my workplace if it is possible to get proof of my vehicle parked in our office car park during these dates and they are checking. I also have Google maps info showing me commuting.

It is the car park shown on street view when you use this link (oct 2025 images relevant - i am at work right now but could take more photos later if helfpul)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/q6UG88Mji4CNW52U8
« Last Edit: January 06, 2026, 12:38:56 pm by e585 »

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If you haven't already, your starting point should be to speak to the management of Salt Bar - they have hired Smart to enforce parking restrictions on their land, so should (in theory) be able to instruct them to cancel this clearly incorrectly issued charge. Be polite but persistent - if they say they can do nothing, you may wish to remind them that they may be held jointly and severally liable for the actions of their agent (Smart Parking) if the matter is escalated.

Any evidence you can acquire that demonstrates the vehicle did not remain there for the period claimed will be beneficial. The fact that both images are of the front of the van is telling, you're hardly likely to reverse out... But this will be much strengthened if you can provide further evidence that demonstrates the vehicle was elsewhere during the period claimed.

In the first instance, you could appeal as the keeper (no need to say who was driving) on the basis that the vehicle was at no point parked in the car park, and was instead pictured performing a 3 point turn at the 2 times stated on the notice, and you could also point out that the vehicle isn't even in the car park on the 2 pictures provided. You may wish to show us a draft before submitting.