A motorist from Milton Keynes has successfully appealed a parking charge issued by Cornwall Council after he was penalised for taking too long to pay via a mobile app due to poor wi-fi connectivity.
Andrew Lockley used the Just Park app to pay for parking in St Austell, Cornwall, in January. However, a delay of about 20 minutes in completing the transaction, caused by a lack of wi-fi at the location, led to a penalty charge notice being issued.
Cornwall Council refused to cancel the ticket, stating that payment must be made 'upon first parking'. Mr Lockley took his case to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, where adjudicator David Binns ruled in his favour, noting that a minor error in the vehicle registration did not invalidate the payment.
Mr Lockley criticised the council's approach, calling it a 'scam' and an 'extortion racket'. He urged others who received similar fines to appeal, saying, 'You can defeat the parking scammers.'
A Cornwall Council spokesperson said the council cooperated fully with the tribunal and that everyone receiving a Parking Charge Notice has the right to appeal to the independent tribunal.
