SHOPPERS and visitors leaving their cars in the busy Morrisons car park in Reigate for the evening are getting hit with fines for not reading the signs.
The popular car park has clearly marked notices which announce shoppers may park there for two hours from 8am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Outside these hours, parking is completely free.
However, drivers who park in the car park before 7pm – or 4pm on Sundays – are still affected by the two-hour limit, even if the two hours take them into the free parking period.
Earlswood resident Jason Gardner, 44, parked at the Bell Street store at 5.30pm on Thursday, July 17, mistakenly believing he could leave his car there while he shopped before watching his son in a concert at neighbouring Priory Park.
He thought the two-hour free parking would take him into the evening's unlimited parking period. Having since discovered his mistake – and not challenging the ensuing fine – he is urging other drivers to be careful.
He said: "The reason I haven't appealed it is they have got me bang to rights with the sign they have up. But, personally, I don't think it's reasonable. It was free parking from 7pm to 8am on the night I parked and I got my ticket at 8.48pm.
"I went back the next day to take a photo of the sign and a few people came up to me and said 'Have you been done too?'"
Since getting his ticket Mr Gardner, a private music teacher, has discovered a number of his clients in the area have made the same mistake.
He said: "I think it's harsh. If I was parking there and going to work I could understand but I shopped at Morrisons and I think it's a bit unfair. But the sign is there, I just didn't read all of it. I saw 'free parking' and stopped."
Morrisons spokeswoman Claire Johnson confirmed the car park's restrictions are as laid out on the signage. Management of the car park is contracted out to the firm Parking Eye.
Caroline Mooney, from Capita PLC which represents Parking Eye, said: "It's Morrisons' car park and is free (for up to two hours), for Morrisons' shoppers."
