Why stopping for coffee Costa lot for city councillor Sarah
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HIT WITH CHARGES ARE URGED TO APPEAL
A DERBY councillor has urged visitors to a new Costa Coffee shop to appeal any parking charge notices, as some have been handed out in error.
Sinfin and Osmaston councillor Sarah Chambers issued a warning after she was given a £100 charge (reduced to £60 if paid quickly) for parking at the new branch at Foresters Way before 10am last month.
Cllr Chambers said she had received messages from other people who had received demands forsimilar penalty charge notices (PCN) in recent weeks – prompting her to write a letter of complaint to the parking company, Civil Enforcement Ltd.
The new Costa Coffee shop opened last month next to a KFC restaurant, adjacent to the former Showcase Cinema. The letter she received said she had breached rules by being in the car park during restricted hours, between midnight and 10am.
This baffled her as she parked just after 9am to visit Costa to meet with people in her role as a councillor.
Cllr Chambers said the policy was
not in line with Costa’s new opening hours (6am to 7pm) and believes others have may have been wrongly charged.
She posted on her Facebook page: “If you have received a parking charge when visiting the new Costa at Foresters Way before 10am, please contest. I’ve received one, as have many residents in the community. Their permit rule is not in line with the business opening hours and I have written to them to look into this as it seems unfair and so many customers will end up with a very expensive coffee.”
Chambers inspected the site again this week and said signs had been changed. The councillor, who was elected last year, said she had still
concerns for those who may have received charges despite the change of signs.
Cllr Chambers said: “My concern is, how many people have paid their PCN based on original signs and the rules that were in place in line with KFC’s business opening hours only? Are these people going to get a refund?
“I would urge anyone who has paid a PCN, in this period, for this site to go into Costa to request a refund. This has caused a lot of distress and inconvenience for the local community who just wanted a coffee.”
Costa Coffee said it was aware of the situation but said it had been resolved with those receiving parking
charges having them removed or refunded.
A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said: “Like many large retailers a number of our stores are located within or alongside privately owned car parks. Whilst the car parks are open for use by Costa Coffee customers they are owned and operated by a third party who manage the terms and conditions around how long a car can be parked there.
“In this situation, the car park in question is contracted to a neighbouring business.
“However, Costa Coffee customers who had received a parking fine at our store on Foresters Way have either had this removed or, if they paid, have since been refunded.”