Bicester News
Cherwell council to repay thousands in parking fines
6:20am Tuesday 21st February 2012
CHERWELL District Council will repay more than £11,000 in parking fines after criticism from an Ombudsman over changes to its parking charges last April.
The council was reprimanded for failing to do enough to publicise the charges for blue-badge holders and evening users of its car parks. Local Government Ombudsman Dr Jane Martin upheld complaints from four drivers who were fined £80. She said: “The council failed to take into account the fact that blue badge holders and evening users would have had no reason to use the ticket machine and, therefore any notice displayed there would have been futile in terms of notifying them of any change.”
Cherwell, which said it was disappointed with the ruling, will refund about £11,600 in fines issued just after the charges were introduced.