Parcel locker user gets Lidl parking ticket

13 hours ago

Crispin Rolfein Beverley

Judy Ayliffe was surprised to receive a parking ticket after collecting a parcel from a a locker outside Lidl in Beverley

BBC A woman wearing a dark blazer stands beside a parking sign in a Lidl car park. She has blonde hair, lipstick and eyeliner. The supermarket building and several parked cars can be seen in the background. The sign includes the words "new parking rules apply". The sky above is overcast with dark clouds — Judy Ayliffe was surprised to receive a parking ticket after collecting a parcel from a a locker outside Lidl in Beverley

A woman was given a £90 parking charge after collecting a parcel from a locker outside a Lidl store.

Judy Ayliffe, from Beverley, said she feared other people could be caught out after she parked in the superstore car park outside opening hours – despite the InPost lockers advertising 24-hour access.

Lidl said it introduced parking restrictions in April amid concerns about anti-social behaviour after closing time, but Ayliffe said signs were not clear enough.

After Ayliffe contacted her MP, Lidl said the charge would be cancelled because it recognised "a genuine mistake was made by the customer". However, the retailer warned other motorists to check signs at stores.

InPost lockers allow customers to collect and return parcels using a code sent to their phone or email.

"The InPost email very clearly stated 24/7 access and even told me which part of the car park to go to," Ayliffe said.

She visited on 31 May and spent about 15 minutes in the car park while trying to retrieve a collection code from her phone.

"I hadn't brought my glasses so I couldn't get the QR code to scan, so I was faffing around.

"I got my parcel and left. I didn't stay for any other reason."

New parking rules were introduced in April to prevent anti-social behaviour

A parking sign outside a Lidl store displays the messages "new parking rules apply" and "customers only, 90 minutes max stay". The sign is pictured against a grey, cloudy sky with part of the supermarket and car park visible below. — New parking rules were introduced in April to prevent anti-social behaviour

Ayliffe received the parking charge notice from ParkingEye, which manages the car park, about a week later.

"I thought this has got to be an error because there's the InPost lockers, there's the EV charging – surely people can use the car park," she said.

Ayliffe appealed to ParkingEye with evidence she had collected the parcel. But in a letter on 2 July, the company rejected this and advised her she could escalate the case to Popla, the appeals service.

ParkingEye said it operated a "sufficient consideration period" in line with guidance from the British Parking Association.

The association's code of conduct suggests a consideration period of five minutes, to allow drivers time to read signs and decide whether to stay, and a grace period of 10 minutes when leaving.

The Lidl store in Beverley closes at 22:00 BST Monday to Saturday, and 16:00 on Sundays

An aerial photograph shows a Lidl supermarket and its surrounding car park on the outskirts of Beverley. Dozens of cars are parked in marked bays around the store, which sits beside a busy roundabout and main road. Residential housing, trees and nearby retail units can be seen around the site, while footpaths run along the edge of the car park. — The Lidl store in Beverley closes at 22:00 BST Monday to Saturday, and 16:00 on Sundays

However, Ayliffe said customers could be confused by InPost's promotion of 24-hour access to lockers.

"If you don't want people to come in after opening hours, put a barrier at the entrance, or at the very least have very clear signage stating you're not allowed in under any circumstances," she said.

InPost said locker opening times were specific to each location and landlords set car park opening hours and terms.

"We are working with Lidl on this specific situation," a spokesperson said.

ParkingEye said the car park had "20 prominent and highly visible signs" and the parking charge was issued correctly.

"However, following a further review, we have decided to cancel the parking charge as a gesture of goodwill," a spokesperson added.

Judy said warnings about using the car park out of hours needed to be clearer

A blue parking notice beside a Lidl sign sets out the car park's terms and conditions. The sign states there is a 90-minute maximum stay, that no parking is permitted outside store hours and that a £90 charge may apply for breaching the conditions. The signs are pictured against a cloudy sky with trees in the background. — Judy said warnings about using the car park out of hours needed to be clearer

Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, said the challenge was balancing measures to tackle anti-social behaviour with ensuring customers were not caught out.

"We need a system where the cameras remain in place, the signage is clear and people can collect parcels from InPost without confusion, while preventing the antisocial behaviour that prompted the changes in the first place."

A Lidl spokesperson said the out-of-hours car park policy provided "a grace period to complete tasks such as picking up a parcel".

"On this occasion, this period was exceeded, but we understand a genuine mistake was made.

"We always advise customers to check specific site signage when visiting stores for details on our car park policy."

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