Disabled man's fury over £100 Teesside Park parking fine

Harry Carse, 75, was left furious after a trip to the popular shopping complex on June 1. He was confronted with a £60 parking charge notice from operator Minster Baywatch.

The former Royal Mail worker has several conditions including degenerative disc wear, arthritis in his feet, and suspected COPD, and his wife Sandra, 75, has double incontinence, meaning they have to use their car to get around the complex.

Signs for blue badge holders state there are "no concessions for disabled/blue badge holders" and that they must adhere to the four-hour time limit, which Harry went over by just 28 minutes (not including a 10-minute grace period). 

However, Teesside Park has since confirmed that it IS able to co-ordinate allowances for blue badge holders if they report to the customer services team on the day they visit - despite not stating this on the disabled parking signs. 

The Teesside Park website does, however, state: "There is no time limit for blue badge holders within the ‘Retail South’ short stay car park, if you plan to stay longer than 4 hours, simply register at customer services (within the Hello! Building) as soon as you arrive."

Harry said it was "scandalous" that there was no sign in the park itself, and added that he was unaware of the centre's rules.

We have contacted Teesside Park for comment regarding signs at the site.

Harry Carse said he was 'bloody annoyed' after getting the fine (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Harry appealed the initial fine in June, sending his blue disability badge as evidence.

However, he was stunned this week when he received a letter saying it had been rejected, meaning they had to fork out a total of £100. 

Harry told The Northern Echo: “I am disabled and can’t walk far but I don’t need a motorised scooter. Teesside Park is quite the distance around to keep moving - and my wife also has toilet needs as well so needs to go regularly.

“I had to go to the toilet not knowing we were 28 minutes past the four-hour limit - but you get 10 minutes grace so I was just 18 minutes past the time limit.

Parking restrictions were brought in at Teesside Park last December (IMAGE: CONTRIBUTOR)

“I was given a £60 parking charge and ended up paying £100 because we lost the appeal.

"Teesside Park is just so big these days with all the shops and food outlets, so four hours is just not enough, never mind being disabled.” 

"Allowances" for blue badge holders at Teesside Park

A spokesperson for Minster Baywatch said Harry's charge was "correctly issued" and said this decision has been reviewed and agreed by an impartial appeals service.

The blue badge parking restriction sign (Image: UGC)

Harry, from Brandon in County Durham, said he was “annoyed” when he received the letter: “I submitted the evidence for the appeal on June 28 and just found out a few days ago.

“It is just so ludicrous. They don’t even give us any time to do any shopping. When were were out in Peterborough there was a place that gave you five hours to do shopping, and that is no bigger than Teesside Park.”

The restrictions were announced last November before coming into force on December 1, meaning from that point, anyone who stayed over the four-hour limit would incur a fine. 

Signs state that the maximum stay is four hours, with no return within two hours of leaving - and failure to adhere to this would result in a £100 fine, or £60 if paid within two weeks. 

ANPR and CCTV cameras are used to take images of the vehicles and numberplates as well as parking attendants with handheld cameras. 

As an approved operator of the British Parking Association (BPA), Minster Baywatch should provide a 10-minute grace period before issuing a parking charge notice.

The shopping complex does have around 2,000 unrestricted spaces, with a chunk of these located at the leisure park - home to Showcase Cinemas, Ninja Warrior, and Hollywood Bowl. 

However, parking here would mean an almost half-mile walk for the retired couple.  

Unrestricted spaces are also available near Barker and Stonehouse, TGI Fridays, Pizza Express, and several other leisure and retail units. 

Recommended reading:

• Homeless people being moved from London to North East
• Residents react as Dawson House in Billingham evacuated
• Middlesbrough Oasis fan regrets buying Manchester tickets

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 3 months for just £3. Click here.

A full statement from Minster Baywatch said: "Teesside Park has a clearly signposted time limit of four hours for all users of this car park, and our services are engaged to ensure this is adhered to.

"The Parking Charge was correctly issued and has been reviewed by POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals Service) who are completely impartial and agreed with the decision confirming the legitimacy of the PCN.

"We are aware there are other non-time restricted options for Blue Badge holders on the site, however, it appears, unfortunately, this was not adopted by the user on this occasion."