JOINT APPROACH Jonathan Lawton can rest assured that the FTA
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and RHA have already intervened in the matter of parking charges at Granada Motorway Service Areas (Sound Off, CM1-7 April and CM4-10 March).
The answer to Mr Lawton's apparent uncertainty about rights of access to service areas is that MSA operators, under the terms of their leases with the Highways Agency, are obliged to provide a minimum of two hours' free parking for all
vehicles. Beyond this parking charges can be levied at whatever level the MSA operator considers appropriate.
Whatever views there might be about the fairness of such charges or their justification, they are legal and should be paid by drivers if they park for more than two hours. Of course drivers have the choice to use a different MSA operator—there are several on the motorway network, all competing for custom.
Where we differ seriously with Granada relates to the methods used by them and their contractor, Controlled Parking, to.operate their parking charges and recovery procedures; instant pseudostatutory £60 "penalty charge notices", with subsequent "notice to owner-driver" demanding £90 against the threat of a county court summons for non-payment.
Both FTA and RHA members need clarification regarding the liability—if any— of a vehicle owner/operator to pay these "fines", and we will be supporting a test case against their legality at the first opportunity.
Don McIntyre, Head of highways and traffic, Freight Transport Association; Chris Rampley, Manager, infrastructure, Road Haulage Association.