Businesses 'gutted' by parade's new parking rules

Businesses say they are "gutted" by a parking rule change that sees drivers getting a £100 fine if they walk out of a car park in Littlehampton.

Shop owners said new cameras were installed at Wick Parade car park last month and customers had received penalty charge notices if they leave the parade on foot, even if they also shop on site.

The car park operator One Parking Solution states on new signs that people can park for three hours, but only "whilst remaining on site".

One Parking Solution said enforcement was "necessary to prevent non-customer parking, which places an unfair burden on the landowner in terms of maintenance costs and business rates, while also limiting access for legitimate users".

The company, which is based in Worthing, wrote in an email to a resident on 16 March that "if you park on site and a passenger walks off site, the vehicle has parked against the terms and conditions displayed on the signage".

Michelle Bly, who owns The Flower Shop, just outside the parade, told BBC Radio Sussex: "The new rules mean anyone who parks in the parade car park can't step foot off site. So they can't do their shopping then go to us or the post office."

Bly said "far more sophisticated" cameras were installed in March.

She added: "Customers are quite alarmed, they don't realise.

"They would not believe they would get fined for walking out of the car park even if they've spent money in the parade. They are pretty shocked."

Businesses said that before, customers would get fined for parking over white lines or staying more than three hours, but not for leaving the parade on foot.

The latest signage states that CCTV, ANPR and mobile parking patrols operate at the site.

One business has also put up a sign warning of the new rules.

Rachel Warren, owner of Sips and Giggles cafe, said: "We're gutted by it, we're all being impacted. People have been scaremongered into not wanting to park here.

"The company need to reconsider its rules, allow people to use the car park for any of the shops on this parade.

"As far as we're concerned, Wick Parade is all the shops. The worst bit is most of us are small single businesses trying to survive."

Vanessa Boltwood, who runs the Post Office outside the parade, said: "Our colleague got a £100 fine, customers also say they're getting fines. One lady went to the chemist [in the parade] then came to us and she got a fine.

"We're losing £200 to £300 a week in shop sales. We're all part of one family of Wick, I don't know why it's being segregated."

In an email seen by the BBC, a resident contacted One Parking Solution last month and the company replied that "all passengers and driver must remain on site" to avoid a fine.

A letter received by one customer who parked on 13 March said they were "not an active customer for the full duration of parking" and that they needed to pay £100.

One Parking Solution said: "The terms and conditions of use are clearly displayed on signage throughout the site; motorists are encouraged to read the signage when choosing to park, those who choose not to adhere should park elsewhere.

"If a motorist believes a parking charge has been issued in error, they should appeal."

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