Hundreds of motorists have been issued with £100 fines after using North Street Car Park in Lurgan.
Councillor Keith Haughian has highlighted the plight of the unsuspecting motorists who were unaware that it is now owned by a large company that issues hefty fines as part of its enforcement policy.
The Sinn Féin councillor for Lurgan DEA stated at this week’s ABC Council meeting: “It’s a privately-owned car park and I’m actually looking for some help from council.
“This is a recently acquired car park by Euro Car Parks, a large company, and they have taken over the management of this.
“This has led to a huge amount of fines being issued to local residents who use this in our town centre.
“Now, I have attempted to reach out to them on two occasions, and on both occasions I have received nothing back.
“So, what we have is a large number of constituents who actually have £100 fines, which in this day and age is more than some can cope with.
“My ask is for the council to help me reach out to this company, to ask for a reconsideration of the fines that were issued.
“Fr Murphy, from the parish, has been helpful up to this point, so if we could get an officer from the relevant department.
“I’m happy to work with them to reach out, but this really is unacceptable, and I would hope that we can get some help for the constituents.”
Cllr Haughian’s proposal to seek help from the council was seconded by Councillor Peter Lavery (Alliance, Lurgan DEA), who stated: “It has impacted a wide number of residents in the greater Lurgan area and surrounding rural areas who would use that car park regularly for their shopping there.
“So it came as a bit of a shock when some of those fines were received.”
The Alliance representative went on to mention the car park of Mount Zion House in Edward Street, Lurgan, where the church have now discontinued their contract with an outside enforcement company, and he felt that a similar option could be explored in relation to the North Street car park.
Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon’s understanding was that, in Northern Ireland, fines don’t have to be paid if the person driving the vehicle has not been identified.
Based on that belief, the SDLP councillor for Armagh DEA commented: “I’m not an expert on the car-parking tickets, but the Consumer Council guidance on the legislation that governs car parks [states that] in England and Wales the person who owns the car is responsible for the fine, [however] the legislation that covers Northern Ireland says it’s the person who is driving the vehicle who is responsible.
“There’s a standard letter on the Consumer Council’s website. If you send it the fine is abolished. It’s very useful.
“In private car parking they’re not enforceable here, and that’s been a legal opinion that’s been sought on it.
“They have to identify the driver. The first thing they do, whenever you ring, they say ‘Were you driving?’ Don’t answer, that’s it.”
Director of Development, Community & Wellbeing, Paul Tamati stopped short of issuing a similar piece of advice, however he did offer to help.
“Whilst I’ll not get into the legals of whether you should or shouldn’t pay a fine, what I will say is that our Economic Development team will be in touch, and we’re going to try and see if we can get some improved signage, and work through the issues that [have been] raised,” he said.
“We will try to get hold of the company that currently manages that car park, and get some further clarity on those queries.”
Cllr Haughian explained that his primary concern was for those motorists who had already paid those fines.
“Cllr O’Hanlon is absolutely spot on, but I suppose the issue for me is, a lot of people have already paid this, especially our elderly residents, and the threatening letters came through the door.
“I would be hopeful through this communication we can actually get some of those refunded.”
