Warning over new Banbury station car park operator after ‘unjust’ fine

‘A number of people’ have been penalised after using Chiltern Railways parking tickets in the car park on the right hand side of Station Approach.

Britannia Parking has taken over the car park and is refusing to drop fines against the mistaken motorists, which one woman believes is unjust.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, argues the signs in the car park are not clear enough, with the firm using similar colours to the old notices.

“It’s absolutely unjust so I’m going to fight it but there will be people out there who won’t know what to do. I may lose but on principle I will fight it as it’s unfair,” she said.

“If I hadn’t paid to park then fair enough but I had paid in good faith.

“I know nobody has much time for parking companies but this is beyond the pale.”

She believes Chiltern Railways is just as culpable as there was just a sign by the desks with nothing by the machines.

When she asked staff about it, she was told many others had also made the same mistake.

Her appeal to Britannia Parking was refused but she has no plan to give in yet.

A Chiltern Railways spokesman apologised and encouraged any of their customers affected by the change to contact Britannia Parking, which has not responded to a request for comment.

“It is clear the new operator’s signage and notification of the change of management was unsatisfactory and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the spokesman said.

“Following receipt of a number of complaints, we have obtained the consent of the landowner to erect two notices that make it explicitly clear that Chiltern Railways car park tickets are not valid in the car park.”