I hate the council

Last year I parked in town, at 11:45pm. The car park became free at midnight, and I didn’t fancy forking out a couple of quid for 15 minutes worth of parking.

Assuming there would not be a traffic warden around at such an hour, I left the car and headed to meet some friends. As if paying £8 to get into a club and drink tap water wasn’t bad enough, imagine my shock when I returned to find a council parking fine on my windscreen. The ticket said I was observed at 11:50pm and ticketed at 11:55pm (5 minutes before it became free).

Anyway, last month I parked in a different council owned car park which is situated above a shopping centre. After putting £2.50 in the meter I then spent just under 2 hours in town.

Upon returning to my car, there was a parking fine attached to the windscreen yet again. I examined the ticket I had purchased and it said I had paid £1.50, NOT £2.50, meaning that a quid had dropped through the machine without me realising.

I wrote to the council and explained I was thoroughly miffed at losing £1, let alone getting a £25 fine on top. Of course, they explained it was my responsibility to check the fee paid and the fine still stands. But it got me thinking, when you consider the cost of council tax, not to mention the hefty rates that the shops in town must pay to the council, it begs the question why we have to pay for parking at all?