AN ANDOVER man who stood his ground against parking charges at St Michael’s retail park in Basingstoke has had the debt dropped.

Following a report earlier this week, Scott Jackson from Andover received an email from CHP Management Ltd, the company which manages the retail park on The Harrow Way on behalf of the landlord.

The emails, seen by the Advertiser, state that the company is working with PCM UK Ltd - which operates the car park - and Basingstoke council to negotiate the arrangements in place for the short-stay car park.

Many people have been caught out because a small enclave of 18 spaces close to Costa, Nando's and Gregg's has a 30 minute limit, unlike the rest of the car park - but original signage was considered by some to be small and easy to miss.

However, in the meantime, Scott was told that “the ticket has been cancelled on this one off occasion”.

Scott said: “Funny what happens when someone goes ahead with outing them via local media isn't it!

“My intention of going to the media was to make people aware of this car park restriction. I see in the comments people are saying I should've looked for signage and that's it's obvious to see. However, many people that have been hit by this parking charge would disagree. The more we make people aware, the less money in the pocket of these parking charge cowboys!”

Over the past few months, there have been reports of a number of cases in which people have faced £100 fines after failing to see time limit signs at the short-stay car park at St Michael’s retail park.

Scott was one of these people, and he said he would ‘make his point in court’ if that’s what it took.

Scott visited Nando’s at the retail park in September where he had a meal with his partner. Whilst there, he parked in the enclave of ‘short-stay’ spaces near the restaurant for around 50 minutes, because he did not see the sign.

On receiving the fine through the post a week later, Scott immediately logged on to the parking company’s online portal and appealed it, but this was rejected.

Scott has spent the past five months trying to address the issue. His fine increased to £160, which he says is unfair as the “ticking clock” doesn’t allow time for people to appeal. A solicitor contacted him and told him that the cost of going to court would increase this further.

“If it goes to court, I know I will lose, but it just seems to be passing from agency to agency,” he previously told the Advertiser.

“I will go to court - I can admit defeat and lose £160, or have my say and lose £260. Either way I will lose money.

“Since then, they have put more signs up, so I said clearly that shows the original signs were not enough, but they’re still enforcing the fines.”

Scott said he has spoken to many of the surrounding businesses, and the manager at Nando’s told him he had received so many complaints that he asked his staff to go out themselves and stick laminated signs to lampposts, warning customers of the limit.

He has also been in touch with the retail park’s landowner, who he feels is partly responsible.

“The landowner has employed them [PCM UK Ltd], so they can say that it is unfair.

“I said to them, how can you be enforcing this when I’m sure your businesses are already struggling?

“I like to go there to have a browse around the shops, and it's our nearest Nando's. I haven’t been back there since and I won’t go back. Salisbury is going to have to be our new one now!”

The Advertiser has contacted PCM UK Ltd and the landowner for comment.