£100 fine for outstaying McDonald's car park welcome – despite double visit

A FAMILY have been hit with a fine of nearly £100 for staying too long in a fast food restaurant's car park – despite going in twice.

Alex Scott, a 61-year-old window fabricator from Broomhall, said his wife Wilma, also 61, had pulled into the McDonald's car park near the Almondvale shopping centre in Livingston, where along with her elderly mother, she took her two grandchildren into the venue for lunch before crossing the road to do a brief shop.

They then returned for ice cream before pulling away from the car park a short time later.

But Mr Scott was stunned when he returned from holiday to find a letter demanding 95 from contractors patrolling the car park at McDonald's.

The letter, from UK Parking Control Ltd, stated that cameras had caught Mrs Scott breaching the hour limit on her stay in the red Peugeot.

Mr Scott instantly apologised to the firm and appealed the decision, but the appeal has not been upheld and the firm is now demanding payment.

Mr Scott told the Evening News: "The whole thing was innocent enough, she just popped into McDonald's with the kids, then across the road for a spot of shopping, before going back in and getting them all ice-cream.

"I couldn't believe when we got this fine through. I could understand if it had been on a double yellow line somewhere, or indeed somewhere dangerous.

"I would even accept it if she'd parked in McDonald's and not gone in, but in fact she went in twice."

Mr Scott has not yet paid the fine, which would have been reduced to 75 had it been paid up straight away, and has vowed to stand firm.

There is much debate whether or not private firms can legally enforce such fines. Previous stories in the Evening News have told how city supermarkets such as Tesco are also employing parking wardens to dish out fines.

Mr Scott added: "We do like taking the grandchildren to McDonald's and it's a great place to go for lunch, but I'm not so sure now."

A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We very much regret that these customers received a parking charge as our main priority with this scheme is to clearly communicate the restrictions and help our customers avoid charges.

"To do this, we post clear warning signs around the car park and in our restaurant.

"If any customer does want to visit for an extended period we can usually make arrangements at the time, but once a parking charge has been issued it is a matter for the parking contractor."