Parking Firm Apologises After Mourners and Funeral Car Hit with £100 Fines
A parking management company has issued an apology after mourners attending a funeral service were slapped with £100 parking fines, with even the driver of the funeral car being told to pay up.
Emotional Day Marred by Penalty Notices
Friends and family who attended what was described as an emotional funeral at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Winsford, Cheshire, on December 18 were left shocked when they received penalty charge notices in the post days later. The memorial service was attended by approximately 60 people, with local media reporting that at least 10 mourners received the £100 fines for parking in the church car park.
Two of those fined reportedly agreed to pay the reduced amount of £60 for quick resolution, as indicated in the letters they received. Fines were also issued for the funeral limousine and for the funeral director, who used his personal vehicle.
Failed Communication and System Blackout
The blunder occurred despite a church volunteer calling management company Creative Car Park to request that the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera at the church's car park be turned off for the funeral. A representative from the firm is said to have assured them that a 'blackout' would be implemented around that time, but this measure was never put in place.
Volunteer Martin Ashley revealed that the church complained to the company after learning about the fines. He stated that he rang them "10 times" in one day but only managed to reach the answerphone. Ashley expressed concern that some mourners had paid up "because they were scared" on what was already an emotional day.
Church Considering Contract Termination
Martin Ashley told the Northwich Guardian that the church is now looking at terminating its contract with the parking firm. He emphasised: "The fact is, money has been taken and letters were sent out when they shouldn't have been. What would have happened if we had not got involved and tried to sort their mess out? I am trying to get this company to remove the system because I am now at a stage where I have had enough."
The Mirror has approached Creative Car Park for comment. The company is understood to have apologised to the church privately for the incident.
