A national motoring campaign group is urging Huddersfield drivers to challenge private parking tickets.

The plea from the British Motorist Protection Agency (BMPA) comes after Kirkburton resident, Linda Hughes, was charged £60 in a Huddersfield car park after accidentally overstaying the free car parking limit of two and a half hours by 20 minutes.

Mrs Hughes received the fine letter from Chorley-based ParkingEye who monitor the Gallagher Retail Park at Waterloo. The ticket came despite Mrs Hughes visiting the site’s four shops, Aldi, Marks and Spencers, Pets at Home and Home Bargains, on a shopping trip for herslef and others.

John and Linda Hughes' parking fine.
John and Linda Hughes' parking fine.

Angus Gill, of the British Motorist Protection Association, told the Examiner: “Gallagher Retail Park uses ParkingEye, a private contractor, to manage this site and issue “fines”.

“Throughout the UK, these demands cause friction and frustration as many are seen as unfair. In addition, many people are confused and bewildered as to how to deal with these given changing and contradictory information.

“This site is a perfect example of these poor practices as ParkingEye rely on the law of contract to issue these fines.

“Lack of clear signs means that it is unlikely any contract was formed so the ‘fines’ are invalid.”

The BMPA has also launched a campaign #Fairparking to end the unfair penalties on motorists.

Mr Gill added: “Our campaigners are also challenging the industry’s legal basis of these fines at the Court of Appeal which will be heard in late February 2015.

“Many courts are now holding over cases, waiting for the result of their Lordships’ ruling on the legality of these fines.

Parking Eye previously told the Examiner: “Demand for ParkingEye’s services is driven by its clients, who want their car parks to be used in the way they are intended.

“The managing agent for the Gallagher car park limits the free parking period to 2.5 hours, helping to ensure that all customers have the opportunity to find a parking space.

“An appeal, even if unsuccessful, does not increase the parking charge.”