A man disputing an ‘outrageous’ fine has called out his council for restricting residents’ parking options by offering fewer parking spaces.
Sydney motorist Ben was fined $129 last Friday after parking his Subaru Impreza hatch next to a fence in a temporary car park near Campbelltown train station, in the city’s south-west.
The parking lot is intended to provide parking for commuters while a new parking garage is being built.
However, Ben described the temporary gravel area as a ‘nightmare’, with a lack of parking forcing motorists to park in a spot along the fence line.
Ben and numerous other drivers who parked next to the fence returned to find among the fine print that they had been fined $129 for “not leaving the vehicle in the marked parking spot.”
A man has been left furious after being fined $129 for parking along a fence at a temporary car park in Campbelltown in Sydney’s south-west (pictured)
The new parking lot is expected to add 500 spaces after it is completed later this year, but the temporary parking lot only has 113 spaces.
“They have advertised that the temporary car park has lost the same number of spaces during construction, which is seriously incorrect,” Ben told Nine.
“I can only assume they fine a lot of drivers because that space along the fence line is always full of cars parked the same way as mine.”
Blurry footage provided to Ben, along with the nice footage of his car parking next to the gate, as well as the long, confusing parking rules sign at the car park entrance.
Ben said it’s “just not fair” to fine people for being confused about unclear parking signs.
Locals have described the temporary car parks as a ‘nightmare’ as construction takes place to replace an old car park (pictured) for residents commuting to work
A spokesperson for Campbelltown City Council said they understood there would be ‘some disruption’ to parking during the construction of the new car park.
“A temporary car park with 113 spaces has been opened next to the existing car park to accommodate some of the parking loss,” the spokesperson said.
“(The council is) actively monitoring and assessing current parking and signage measures, as well as community feedback, to identify any further improvements that can be made and to inform any additional community notices required.
“While this review takes place, vehicles will only be fined if a safety risk to both other vehicles and/or pedestrians is identified.”