A woman has challenged a £100 parking charge issued after her vehicle stopped for just two minutes and seven seconds to help three disabled passengers and load a wheelchair in New Quay.

Linthalla Durham, from Derbyshire, received the notice from Euro Parking Services following a visit to Lower Car Park, Wellington Place, on 15 August.

She maintains that the vehicle was stopped temporarily in a hatched area because the car park was full and the narrow access road was unsuitable for safely assisting passengers.

Three disabled people, including Mrs Durham, were travelling in the vehicle, with two holding Blue Badges.

In her appeal, she explained: “This was not done for convenience, nor was the area being used as a parking space.” She argued that the vehicle's engine remained running and that it was moved immediately after the passengers and wheelchair had been accommodated.

However, Euro Parking Services rejected her appeal, acknowledging the circumstances but maintaining that the vehicle had been incorrectly parked in a restricted area. The company said its signage was clearly displayed and that the hatched area was not designated for parking or stopping.

Mrs Durham subsequently appealed to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS), which upheld the charge on 29 September. The adjudicator concluded that the signage was sufficiently clear and that the evidence established a parking contravention, while finding insufficient evidence to justify cancelling the charge on disability-related grounds.

Mrs Durham has since lodged formal complaints questioning the handling of her appeal.

She also says her brother successfully challenged two separate charges at the same car park despite using similar grounds, raising questions about differing appeal outcomes.

Her experience follows complaints on a local Facebook group, where motorists have reported receiving parking notices for exceptionally brief stops. One commenter claimed to have received a charge for just 61 seconds, while others described notices for stops lasting 75 seconds, 90 seconds and three minutes.

Another motorist claimed their charge was withdrawn after challenging whether their vehicle had been on a public road rather than private parking land.

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake confirmed Mrs Durham had contacted him but explained parliamentary rules prevented him intervening because she lives outside his constituency.

He said hers was the only complaint about the car park received by his office, although he was looking into whether more widespread concerns existed.

Mrs Durham also says Ceredigion County Council has referred her concerns to Trading Standards.

The International Parking Community (IPC), which oversees standards for its member operators, declined to discuss the case.

An IPC spokesperson said its Code of Practice requires operators to consider motorists' evidence and circumstances when reviewing appeals, with further access to independent adjudication.

The controversy comes as the UK Government laid a new Private Parking Code of Practice before Parliament on 20 October, proposing stronger protections, including a minimum five-minute consideration period in qualifying car parks. The changes are not yet in force and would not retrospectively determine Mrs Durham's appeal.

Euro Parking Services was approached for comment but declined.