Nursing assistant slapped with £400 fine for parking at hospital during pandemic
A nursing assistant was slapped with £396 worth of fines for parking at a hospital while he was working on a Covid ward.
Malcolm Timmis, from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent is now being chased by bailiffs for the money after refusing to pay the three parking penalties, which were issued at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in February and March last year.
The 61-year-old says that hospital parking charges were still being waived due to the coronavirus pandemic at the time and that parking metres were sealed up on the days of the fines.
But car park operator APCOA has said that the fines were issued correctly and are still demanding he pay up.
Malcolm told StokeonTrentLive: “At the time, we weren't having any visitors and they had covers on the parking meters. We couldn't put money in even if we had wanted to.
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The fines were issued in February and March last year (Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)“I parked there for two-and-a-half years without any fines - and then I had three in February and March. All those months going out and clapping, the support was, well, touching. Now, you’re getting a ticket.”
Each fine was originally £50 but were reduced to £30 after Malcolm's union intervened.
However, Malcolm now faces being hit with a county court judgement (CCJ) for refusing to pay the fines and court costs mean that they've now gone up to £132 each.
Malcolm added: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. I don’t want to pay anything. It has never been about the money - it’s the principle. I strongly believe there's a principle here.
“I’m in a fortunate situation, I’m 61, I don’t need credit or a mortgage. I don't have to worry about having credit or anything. There are a lot of people at the hospital who have been frightened and paid their fines so they don’t get a CCJ.
Malcolm had been working on the Covid ward at Royal Stoke University Hospital at the time (Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)“The next step is taking legal advice. I haven't got this far not to pursue the matter myself. I think there’s been a gross injustice. I don't think a CCJ should be levelled at me. I don't think common sense is against the law.”
APCOA have said that the parking meters were in operation on the days of Malcom's fines and that drivers can also use an app to pay.
A spokesperson for the parking operator said: "Mr Timmis has neither paid, nor appealed, his penalty-charge notices (PCNs) so they have been progressed to debt recovery in accordance with British Parking Association guidelines.
"We always encourage our customers to get in touch if they feel that they have been issued a fine unfairly or would like a clearer understanding of their particular case."
They have advised Malcolm to obtain a monthly staff permit for the future, adding: "We fully understand that demand at this car park can be high at times and the opening of a new 1,600-space multi-storey car park in Spring 2024 will improve the experience for staff and visitors alike.
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APCOA said that transactions were being made at the parking meters on the day of the fines (Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)"In the short term, we would encourage Mr Timmis to obtain a monthly staff permit for the Royal Infirmary car park which is less congested and can be accessed on foot or by using the shuttle services provided."
The Royal Stoke Hospital are aware that its staff are being targeted by bailiffs but warned that they are required to display a valid parking permit and will be issued with parking charge notices if they don't comply with their permit.
Director of Estates Lorraine Whitehead said: “We are aware that some staff have now received letters from APCOA’s debt collection company for failure to pay parking charge notices.
"If staff have parked appropriately, and their PCN was issued outside of trust policy, we will work positively with them through an appeals process.
"We recognise that parking can be difficult at times and there is a long-term car parking solution with planning approved for a new multi-storey car park to be built next to the emergency department.”
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