Judge throws out fines issued at notorious Sheffield car park

Fines at a notorious Sheffield car park have been issued illegally after a judge dismissed charges against several defendants.
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The Berkeley Precinct car park on Ecclesall Road became notorious among city drivers after dozens were caught out last year by operator VCS.

Customers were previously allowed to stay for free for two hours, but signs were changed in November 2018 reducing this to one.

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However, a number of drivers who challenged their fines and were given court summons had their cases thrown out at Sheffield County Court this month after the contract was deemed invalid.

The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

One of these drivers, Andrew Norton, has now got in touch with the Star to publicise the rulings, in the hope other drivers may be able to challenge their fines.

He said: “Somebody has managed to get hold of the contract between VCS and the landowner which stipulates two hours free parking.

“When the judge was asking VCS’s lawyer how long defendants had stayed, if it was between one and two hours he just threw the case out.

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“In the end they owed me money for a couple of taxi fares and half a day off work.”

The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

Andrew, who works as an archaeologist, says he had used the car park on many previous occasions and wasn’t aware the rules had supposedly changed when he stayed there for 77 minutes in March last year.

After he challenged VCS’s fine, he was prosecuted by the firm and finally had his day in court on January 13.

He said: “They seem to be filling the courts with these cases at the moment and I just thought I might be able to help other people by putting this out there.

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“I saw one of your articles from last January about a woman who said she was being treated like a criminal by VCS and I know someone else who ended up paying £180 beacuse they missed the deadline.

The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
The Berkeley Centre Customer Car Park, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

“There are probably hundreds of people who have just paid.”

A representative for Vehicle Control Services Limited said: “We are satisfied that we have lawful authority from the landowner to enforce the advertised terms and conditions of parking at the Berkeley Centre private car park.

“As we are currently considering an appeal against the judge’s decision, it is not appropriate to comment further at this stage.”