I’ve launched a campaign against rip-off private car park vendors after hearing from several local people who have been wrongly issued with steep parking fines from private companies.

In one such case, Keith Dungworth was wrongly issued with a fine for £100 after being falsely accused of parking his car at St Mary’ Gate retail park for an entire day. In fact, Keith had only briefly dropped off his wife at the car park in the morning and then picked her up in the evening. Fortunately, I was able to help Keith to successfully appeal the fine and it was withdrawn.

I’ve helped others to challenge similarly unfair fines but more needs to be done to stop unscrupulous companies from preying on people.

Surprisingly, private parking enforcement companies are not regulated. In March 2019, Parliament passed a Bill instructing the Government to introduce new rules governing private cark parks. But, two years later, Ministers have failed to do so and no new laws have been put in place. As a result, car park vendors are continuing to issue bogus fines to drivers.

The Government needs to take action to properly regulate the industry but, in the meantime, I’ll be doing what I can locally to put pressure on these rip-off merchants.

Local people can help me to name and shame the worst companies by telling me if they’ve been wrongly issued with a parking fine at: www.louisehaigh.org.uk/parking