Driver felt 'conned' over parking fine in square

Motorists fined for parking in a market square have urged a council to act over "confusing" road markings.

Angela Allen, 64, said she felt "totally conned" after receiving a penalty notice in Saturday Market, Beverley, despite parking in what she believed was a designated bay.

A total of 732 fines have been issued for parking contraventions in the square in the financial year to date, on top of 910 in 2023-24.

An East Riding of Yorkshire Council spokesperson said the council had plans to make the road layout clearer and had installed red signs to indicate areas where parking was not permitted.

Ms Allen said she appealed against her penalty notice but lost.

"I parked on the end of the row, I walked over and bought a ticket, put it in my van and off I went. I came back and was astonished to find that I've got a parking ticket. I thought this was some kind of joke," she added.

"There's nothing that screams to me you can't park there."

Ms Allen was fined £70, which could be halved if paid within 30 days.

The problems have followed changes to the layout of the square, where trial pedestrianisation schemes have been carried out and turning spaces installed.

The council said this had resulted in some white parking bay lines still being visible.

Last summer, one driver who was caught out complained that the markings made the square resemble a "Pacman game".

Kevin Smart was fined £70 for unwittingly parking in one of the restricted areas.

However, eight months on, local people have said the markings are still causing problems.

Dan Luscombe, who works at a cafe in the square, said he believed between five and 10 people a week were getting caught out.

"A lot of people come in our store and usually they're running out because they're getting fined," he added.

Vicky Berridge, 69, from Beverley, said: "I think it's quite confusing in Saturday Market because people can't work out what lines are which and where they should park.

"People have had quite nasty arguments with the traffic wardens, but they're only doing their job."

A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "The available aisles around this area of the car park were introduced following requests from stakeholders and the public during consultation on the scheme, to give drivers more space to manoeuvre and to turn around if they need to.

"To prevent confusion, red signs have been installed to indicate areas where parking is not permitted."

The spokesperson encouraged people to pay attention to the signs and added: "We always say that anyone who receives a parking fixed penalty ticket has the right to challenge it with the council."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.