Went to take DD (2yo) swimming today but pools car park (which is free) was full. For a pool of its size (4 swimming pools) it only has 30 spaces. A school bus parked across 5!
No biggie I just parked in the adjacent matalan!/staples car park. Also free and with 200+ spaces. There's only ever a couple of dozen cars in there as staples is shutdown and its a small 'city' anyway.
So I parked went into the pools (30sec to entrance) discovered the pools weren't open to public for another and immediately returned to my car to find a parking charge slapped to the windscreen.
I realised the warden had been parked a bit behind me when I arrived and has been there 45mins after since I've been in my car (giving DD a snack). So £100 charge.
Now firstly I broke their rule no question. Irregardless of the pools car park being far too small for its needs I broke their rule.
And I know the reason behind the rule, so people who aren't using the shops don't take up spaces that could be taken up by an actual shopper. Or so people don't overstay.
What I take issie with is this car park doesn't have that issue. There has never been a shortage spaces. So why is their a warden sitting there for over an hr trying to catch people out? It's not trying to help the public by sorting an issue. It's literally they've cottoned on to the pools car park being far too small for their needs and they're exploiting that. There's no other car park nearby to use either I waited for someone to leave the pools or I leave.
Anyway I feel their behaviour is pretty dispacabale. I returned another hr after and the warden is still their with a smug smirk on his face.
I'm tempted to try similar underhand tactics. Not pay and challenge them to prove that although i left can they prove my husband 'the real driver' wasn't in the shops?
WWYD? I'm fuming!! Took DD to park instead (had to pay for that car park and happily did no issue) and she fell in dog poo!!! Argh!!