Driver slapped with £70 fine at Asda claims its car park is 'illegal'

A motorist given a £70 fine at an Asda car park claims every ticket issued there is illegal because the signs do not have planning permission.

Terry Harris, 48, a photographer from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, received a letter in September saying he had overstayed for the two hours he had paid for in the car park.

Mr Harris said he can’t remember if he overstayed the time for the £2 fee he paid.

After receiving the £70 fine, he looked through Facebook for advice and then searched Peterborough City Council’s planning portal – and found the signs at the car park didn’t have planning permission.

He got in touch with the council’s planning compliance leader, Nigel Barnes, who wrote back: “The new adverts on the lamp posts in the car park of Asda at Viersen Platz are unlawful and will remain so until such time as any future application is approved.”

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Mr Harris, who is calling for all issued tickets to be refunded, said: “Every single ticket they have profited from is illegal.

“They should all be rescinded and on their own volition.”

The car park at Asda is operated by ParkingEye and a spokesman said: “ParkingEye is a member of the British Parking Association and follows its code of practice.

“We support landowners in obtaining the necessary planning consent if required.”

An Asda spokesman said: “We are currently investigating this matter and will be happy to cancel any ticket if it has been issued incorrectly.”

Peterborough City Council said it will not take enforcement action despite telling ParkingEye the lamp post signs are a “few centimetres” too big.

A spokeswoman said: “In cases like this, where we would likely approve the change to the signs, the advice from government is not to use our enforcement powers and to work with the landowner to achieve compliance.”