Driver Receives Parking Fine After Being Stranded in Hospital Car Park Due to Road Accident

A motorist expressed her dismay, stating she was “appalled,” upon receiving a parking fine after being unable to exit a hospital car park due to a proximate accident. Kate Witney had paid for parking at Lincoln County Hospital, but her departure was impeded as the exit and adjacent roadways became gridlocked following an incident on the A15 eastern bypass. One week subsequent to the event, Ms. Witney, who works as a singing teacher, was issued a parking charge notice via mail for exceeding her allotted parking duration. Her subsequent appeal was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, following an inquiry from the BBC to Parkingeye, the private firm managing the car park for United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals Trust, the company announced its decision to revoke the charge. Ms. Witney had traveled to the hospital on 15 November with the intention of collecting a friend. However, upon their attempt to depart, the roads were at “a complete standstill,” preventing her from even exiting her designated parking space. She stated, “It was clear looking up towards the road nothing was moving in either direction.” “That continued for an hour and eventually things got moving and off we went,” she added. She recalled thinking, “At the back of my mind I thought, ‘I’ve gone over my parking, but so’s everybody else and it’s obviously out of my control’.” The parking facility employs a camera recognition system that logs vehicle entry and exit times. Ms. Witney submitted a written explanation of the circumstances to Parkingeye, but her appeal was denied. She indicated that “scores” of other motorists were similarly trapped within the car park. She further commented, “They must have been wondering why they’ve got all these people going over their parking at the same time on the same day.” “I just think it’s appalling that a very serious accident on the bypass ends up being a nice little bonus for the parking firm,” she concluded. Following the BBC’s intervention and bringing the matter to its attention, Parkingeye undertook a “further review” and subsequently rescinded the parking charge. A spokesperson for the company stated that the firm has collaborated with the hospital for the past six years to “significantly improve how its car parks operate.” They further elaborated, “During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors.” The system, they noted, was contributing to “ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital.” The United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals Trust confirmed that three additional individuals had received similar parking tickets, which have also been cancelled. A spokesperson for the trust added, “We have been in contact with our parking enforcement provider, Parkingeye, and asked for these parking charge notices, issued between 5pm and 6pm on the day, to be cancelled.” “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this unforeseen issue,” the spokesperson concluded.