'I got fined £11k over a five-minute parking rule'

Hannah Robinson has been hit with parking charge notices totalling £11,000 since 2021

A motorist says she has been issued with fines totalling £11,000 after repeatedly falling foul of a car park's five-minute payment rule.

Hannah Robinson is one of several people who told the BBC they had been caught out at Feethams Leisure car park in Darlington, where tickets must be bought within five minutes of arrival.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy said she was so outraged she had called for an urgent meeting with car park operator Excel Parking Services.

The parking firm said the rule was introduced due to a large number of drivers not paying while waiting in the car park to pick people up from the nearby cinema and hotel.

The sign at the entrance of Feethams Leisure car park details how to pay

Ms Robinson, who used the car park when she was working nearby, said she had received parking charge notices totalling £11,000 since 2021.

She said she had paid for a ticket on each occasion but, due to poor internet connection in the car park, the transaction had not always gone through within the five minutes.

"It's ridiculous," Ms Robinson said. "I paid for it. I've been trying for the full five minutes. They just don’t care."

She said the whole situation had been "upsetting" and "stressful", and the operators did "not want to talk" to her at all.

"I've done absolutely everything I can to get in touch with them," Ms Robinson said, adding: "All this just to park my car to come to work."

Other drivers the BBC spoke to who had been caught out said the five minute limit could be difficult for those with mobility issues or children.

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy said the parking charge notices being issued to motorists were "shocking"

Ms McEvoy, who won the Darlington seat for Labour in the general election, said the fines being issued were "absolutely appalling".

She said: "I've written to Excel Parking and told them I want them to come to Parliament and meet with me and tell me to my face why they think it’s acceptable to treat people like this."

A spokesman for Excel Parking Services said: "Unfortunately a large percentage of motorists do not pay.

"They simply sit in their vehicles for a prolonged period of time waiting to pick people up from the hotel, cinema, and restaurants.

"That causes a loss of revenue and maintenance problems, and that's why the five-minute time period has been introduced."