Concerns over £100 'fines' at Peak District pub The Fox House near Sheffield after years of free parking
“Lucky enough that I had a receipt for what I’d paid for so beware”
Concerns have been raised over new rules at a popular Peak District pub that offered free parking for years.
Star readers have broadly welcomed The Fox House on Hathersage Road installing cameras to stop non-customers abusing the perk and staying for hours.
The business hired Euro Car Parks to police the huge site, which was frequently rammed with vehicles while the pub stayed quiet.
Now, customers have to input their car registration number on a tablet near the bar. Non-customers can only park overnight - from 8pm-8am - for £20.
The penalty for breaking the rules is a letter from Euro Car Parks demanding £100.
On The Star’s Facebook page, Jo Green said: “Frankly, I’m amazed they have never done this before.
“We went in spring and had to leave because there literally was nowhere to park and use a wheelchair.”
John Earnshaw agreed: “Long overdue, I’ve driven past many times thinking the place must be full.”
But Tony Carroll feared the end his routine: “Park. Run. Pub. Ah well, that's the end of that.”
Tom Churchman felt the new rules had tipped the balance for him.
“The Fox House’s only redeeming feature was the free parking, he said.
“Other than that it's overpriced and distinctly average.
“Often went for a pint after climbing because we could park there. Won't bother. Now, I will just go to a better pub.”
Derek Taylor recalled a time at another pub where he forgot to register.
He said: “I had an instance where I logged in and they tried to fine me £100.
“Lucky enough that I had a receipt for what I’d paid for so beware.”
Customers are urged to keep receipts for drinks and food and take a photograph of the screen after registering their vehicle. The system does not print a receipt or offer any other evidence of input.
There is also confusion over the ‘consideration period’ which gives a driver time to drop someone off, or change their mind about visiting and leave, before a £100 demand is triggered.
Newly installed signs at the pub do not mention it.
Mitchells & Butlers, which owns the Fox House and hundreds of pubs, told The Star it was “usually around 15 minutes.”
Euro Car Parks did not respond to questions.
The British Parking Association - of which ECP is a member - states it could be as low as five minutes.
Membership of the British Parking Association allows firms to buy drivers’ addresses from the DVLA.
The BPA has a 61 page code of practice running to 19,000 words.
It states the consideration period is the time required for a driver to identify and access a parking bay appropriate to their needs, read and understand the applicable terms and conditions and decide whether to accept them and remain or reject them and leave.
A Mitchells & Butlers spokesperson said staff at The Fox House would sort out queries provided customers had receipts.
They said: “If someone has been incorrectly fined our teams can get in touch with the car parking company.
“Obviously they'd need to show a receipt or the like to show they were customers.”
In February, the Competition and Markets Authority imposed a £473,000 penalty on Euro Car Parks for failing to respond to a notice that legally required the company to provide information.
In July, the CMA opened an investigation into suspected infringements of consumer protection law by Euro Car Parks.
It is is investigating whether practices at petrol stations including whether it is fair for some drivers to receive parking charges while queuing for, or using, petrol pumps and other forecourt services such as car washes.
The CMA added: “At this initial stage, it should not be assumed that ECP has infringed consumer protection law and no finding has been made.”
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