Council chiefs are revoking tickets issued in Kirkcaldy after drivers were hit by a car parks mix-up.
The confusion arose after a car park in the town centre was given the same name as a site nearby on signs and an app.
The signs with Euro Parking Services branding were put up at the council-run car park on Dunnikier Road calling it Coal Wynd – a separate parking site the firm already operates nearby.
It was also given the same name on the RingGo payment app.
That meant people were paying to use the wrong site – and were then hit with tickets by the local authority as a result.
An investigation is now being carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the mix-up, which is understood to have lasted for about three weeks between May and June.
Retail worker Marlene Berry was issued with a penalty charge notice (PCN) after she paid to use the wrong car park.
Husband Gordon Berry said: “I’m shocked that Fife Council wished to enforce a penalty that is 30 times the parking charge that my wife tried to pay in good faith.”
Fife Council has now agreed to revoke the tickets handed out.
Council ‘taking legal advice’ over car park’s takeover
Susan Keenlyside, sustainable travel and parking service manager, said: “We have investigated the events surrounding this and we are now taking legal advice.
“As soon as we became aware of the matter, we raised it with Euro Parking Services and RingGo to stop any further payments being made by motorists.
“However, as a result of the two adjacent car parks appearing in RingGo with very similar names a small number of PCNs were issued.
“Due to the confusion in this exceptional case, we’re arranging for these PCNs to be cancelled.”
The case was raised with David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, who said: “I’m glad that Fife Council has chosen to cancel the PCNs that were unfairly issued to my constituents.
“However, it beggars belief that the local authority would not listen to common sense and only U-turn on its absurd decision to try and force innocent motorists to pay these fines after I raised the issue with them.
“Going forward, I hope that Fife Council will employ common sense in the future.”
Euro Parking Services has been contacted for comment.
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