Worksop: Motorists urged to object to controversial parking cameras

Parking Eye, the private firm which operates the Bridge Place car park, applied for planning permission for the automatic number-plate recognition cameras in February after it was revealed they had been installed without the green light from Bassetlaw District Council in 2014.

Signs have now been put up around the car park informing residents they have until Thursday, March 24, to object to Parking Eye’s retrospective application – prompting calls for as many residents as possible to have their say – with a number of residents who have already objected arguing the cameras will “be the death of Worksop town centre” and are contributing to a “money-making scam”.

Worksop resident Colin Tawn said: “The more people who object to the cameras, the quicker something can be done about the fact motorists are being bullied into paying unfair fines. This issue makes a mockery of planning laws and must be dealt with.

“The cameras should be avoided like the plague.”

Donna Flack, of Newcastle Avenue, is appealing her £150 fine after parking at the site to pick up her young son from school.

She said: “Apparently I stayed in the car park over the allocated time which just isn’t true. I have never had a parking fine in my life. It’s very upsetting.

“I will definitely be objecting to these cameras as they don’t seem to be reliable.”

A Parking Eye spokesman said parking charges “were not affected” by lack of planning permission.

He said: “On occasion, there are individual circumstances which require consultation in respect of planning and we are always willing to engage as necessary.”

The application is available to view via the public access online register on the Bassetlaw District Council website at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/everything-else/planning-building/comment,-track-view-current-applications.aspx