Madam,

In the Cambrian News of 21 April you reported on the possibility of private firms such as Parking Eye taking over all car parks in the county.

The description of these firms as “draconian” is an understatement, as my recent experience of Parking Eye shows.

I went to shop at Lidl the evening before Good Friday, and went back the following morning to purchase oven chips which had run out the evening before. My car was parked outside my house overnight.

Parking Eye sent me a payment request for parking overnight, recording only the first entry and second exit of my two visits.

I notified them of their mistake, providing copies of the two Lidl receipts and they responded by saying that, unless I provide evidence, the charge still stands.

I assume that they do in fact have the evidence showing my car leaving the car park on Thursday evening and entering the car park on Friday morning, and that they are deliberately attempting to extort money for a service not provided.

I have referred the matter to the police, who say they cannot deal with this case, which I find strange. I will attempt to report the case to Trading Standards, although there doesn’t seem to be any mechanism for contacting Trading Standards at the council, which in itself is an issue.

In my view, the management of car parks in Ceredigion should not be in the hands of such people.

Yours etc.

Simon Ayres

Parcyronnen