A FATHER from Billericay says he was ordered to leave a council car park with his young son just minutes before parking charges would cease to apply.
Darren Park, of Perry Street, was with his three-year-old son Oliver and had parked in the Billericay High Street car park, behind Iceland, on February 9.
He arrived at 9.23am and went to pay for an hour of parking as the car park is free from 9.30am.
However, he was told by a parking warden that he must pay a flat fee of £7.50 to leave his car at this time.
By this point, it was just a few minutes to 9.30am, but Mr Park says that instead of allowing him and his son to stay, the warden told them they needed to get back into the car and leave.
Mr Park said: "I turned up at the car park and saw that there were parking wardens doing the rounds, which I thought was a bit odd as I thought parking was still free on a weekend.
"I took my son out of the car and walked over to the ticket machine. I could see that they had introduced a charge up to 9.30am on Saturday mornings.
"I tried to put 50p in to pay for an hour's worth of parking, which would be more than I needed, but it wasn't accepted.
"By which point one of the parking wardens marched up and told me I must pay the flat fee of £7.50 if I wished to park at this time.
"I was ordered to leave the car park and had to put my son back in his car seat, which takes a while, and drove out of the car park to return at 9.30am.
"I looked at my watch and by the time I left it was only another couple of minutes until half past."
Mr Park added: "I ended up parking on the High Street in the end as I found a space there instead, but was so amazed that this guy made me drive out of the car park with only a few minutes to go, especially as I had a young child with me.
"I'm not one to complain about this sort of thing but I'm still amazed that this guy made me drive away so close to 9.30am – it's just ridiculous.
"I was really shocked that they made me turn around and leave just to come back again a minute or two later.
"I was prepared to pay for an hour or so but they wouldn't let me."
The car park is owned by Basildon Borough Council and is free at weekends from 9.30am on Saturday until 8am on Monday.
Parking charges are also waived in this car park at Christmas.
The complimentary parking was under review at the start of the year but the borough council has decided to continue this service.
The charges up until 9.30am on Saturday morning were put in place to stop workers in the town leaving their cars parked all day while shops are trading.
Phil Turner, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said: "I find this disappointing because of the proximity to the free period.
"By the time he had parked and tried to get a ticket it would have practically been half past. I am sorry that this may have soured his opinion of Billericay, which is a shame.
"I offer my apologies and hope it doesn't stop him coming back. Hopefully we can go back on the policy and look at this – technically it was the right thing to do but it doesn't go with the spirit of the free parking which is there to allow people to enjoy the town centre."
