Tesco's finest dishing out more £70 parking fines

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 10:09

MORE motorists have complained after being slapped with parking tickets by Tesco – including a pregnant mother who said she left her car in a disabled bay for a matter of minutes.

Following the Evening News story this week about a shopper who was hit with a 70 fine for parking outside a designated bay, other shoppers have reported similar experiences.

Katie Peart, 30, visited the Corstorphine store on the day of her three-year-old's birthday so that his grandfather, who works in the supermarket, could wish the toddler a happy birthday.

But it turned out to be an expensive gesture when the pregnant mother-of-one returned to her car to find a ticket slapped on the windscreen last week.

She said: "I'm nearly five months pregnant now and there were no parent and child spaces, so I chose to park in one of the bays because I knew I'd only be a minute.

"As they've been rebuilding the car park, it is half its size and they have reduced the number of spaces for families. I didn't feel I had much choice but to park in the bay in my condition. We went in and said a quick hello to grandad and then came straight back out. I couldn't believe I had a ticket. It was a very expensive birthday treat and it muddied the day."

In an ironic twist, the parking bay Mrs Peart used has now been changed into a space suitable for parents and children.

Mrs Peart, a shop worker from Broomhouse, added: "I am gutted to have been hit with a 70 fine. That is my shopping bill for three weeks and we need every penny we can get."

Another Edinburgh resident, May Leckie, 61, contacted the Evening News to complain about her parking ticket after reading the case of bank worker Mark Robertson, who was fined 70 after parking outside a bay.

Ms Leckie, a nurse from East Craigs, said she parked in the same space as Mr Robertson for half an hour when she accompanied a friend who felt unwell into the store.

She said: "I was appalled to find the ticket. My car is only a tiny Peugeot and there is no way it was causing an obstruction, like the ticket said. I am appealing. Tesco parking is getting ridiculous."

A Tesco spokesman denied the number of child-friendly parking spaces had been reduced, and

added: "We're more than happy to re-check if someone feels they have been unfairly sent a reminder letter or fine. Customers need to ring the number on the letter.

"We know space is tight but improvements are being made.

"Clear signage does spell out we now operate a charge system for inappropriate parking or overstaying. We allow free parking in a city where this is a scarcity so we think all things considered this is a pretty fair trade-off."