A furious gran said she's been given a £100 fine for parking outside a pub despite there being no visible signs to warn her. Sandra Smith parked outside the Old Cobblers in Rawtenstall for 90 minutes after taking her son to the a Wacky Warehouse in the pub on September 21.
A few weeks later on October 7, a confused Sandra received a £60 parking fine from Euro Car Parks in the post. Mystified by the charge she took to social media to ask if others had been stung by the same restrictions.
READ MORE : Insults with your burger? A sweary night out at Karen’s Diner where the service is the pits
LancsLive reports that while it later transpired there was a parking meter, Sandra says this was covered by scaffolding. She also stressed she had no intention of swerving the charge - and even spent £16 in the pub during her stay.
Talking to LancsLive, Sandra said: "I had visited the pub a lot before COVID, so I think that's why I didn't think there was any parking restrictions and I could just go there. I've been back since and for what I could see, there wasn't any signs telling you of the rules that were noticeable.
"There's scaffolding outside too, which covers the parking meter, so it isn't at all obvious it's there. I went back through to the Wacky Warehouse and there was an A-Frame in the lobby telling you about registering for free parking, but I'm convinced it was not there when I visited.
"I was in the Wacky Warehouse for around 90 minutes in total, whilst my grandson played and we ate and drank and no one told me about it." After receiving her fine on 7 October, she was given 10 days to appeal, which she did within the required timeframe.
However, she is still awaiting a response from Euro Car Parks and was told that the fine could escalate to £100 if unsuccessful. Sandra added: "I wanted to put it on Facebook to see if anyone else had the same experience. I got lots of responses, with people saying the same thing happened to them.
"I was told that the restrictions had been in place since January, but someone else was told it had been three months, so I don't know what's gone on there. I'm just being honest about my experience as I just think it's strange to have the restrictions there, as everywhere else in Rawtenstall is free to park.
"It's also an out-of-town pub, so I think it's strange they'd charge. I paid for food and coffee whilst we were there by card and spent around £16, so I have that proof to show them if they anyone asks."
LancsLive has approached Euro Car Parks for comment.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- I found the best Chinese in Greater Manchester and it ruined crispy duck for me
- Afflecks is 40 and doing better than ever - meet the special people who've made it what it is
'I tried Indian fish and chips in Cheetham Hill and actually preferred it'
- Harpurhey rapper Shotty Horroh launches his own professional wrestling promotion
