A DISABLED woman from Rhyl has told of her shock that she received a parking fine after attempting to help a young mother and her baby at a car park.
Karen Williams, 68, had parked in the Denbighshire County Council-operated disabled car park at Rhyl Library on December 7, 2023, and was leaving when she noticed the woman struggling to push her baby’s pram in the poor weather.
She then drove into the adjacent Morfa Hall car park, run by Smart Parking, to help the woman, who had parked there.
But shortly after doing so, Ms Williams was notified that she had been fined £100 for entering Morfa Hall car park without paying.
This fine, she said, has since increased to £170.
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Ms Williams said: “The weather was terrible, with heavy rain and wind, and she was getting blown everywhere and was struggling to push the pram.
“So, I drove into Morfa Hall car park, and stopped by where she was parked, but kept my car engine running.
“I held the pram while she was getting her keys out and put her bags in her car; she then lifted the baby out and put him in his car seat while I still had hold of the pram. Otherwise, the pram would have blown away.
“Two weeks later, I got a parking ticket to pay £100 for staying there for 10 minutes. I had already paid for parking at the library and still had time left on my ticket.
“I sent an email to Smart Parking, explaining what had happened, but they weren't interested.”
Ms Williams, who suffers from arthritis in both her knees and ankles, wants Smart Parking to quash the fine.
She stressed that she did not park in Morfa Hall car park, but merely stopped by where the mother’s vehicle was parked to assist her and her baby.
Numerous residents have previously told the Journal that they have also been fined by Smart Parking, having incorrectly assumed that Morfa Hall and Rhyl Library are the same car park.
Ms Williams said: “I wasn’t actually parking there; I was only helping the lady, and had already paid for my own parking in the disabled car park.
“I never thought I was going to get a ticket; if I knew that, I would never have driven in there. I couldn’t have walked over there, because I’m bad on my legs.
“Everyone thinks that the two car parks are the same car park. I thought I’d just parked in the disabled section of one whole car park (when initially parking at Rhyl Library).”
In response, Smart Parking said its decision to fine Ms Williams was correct.
A spokesperson for Smart Parking said: "Although the car parks are in close proximity, they are clearly differentiated by the different signage, which is highlighted by the fact that hundreds of people use the Morfa Hall car park that we manage without any issue every single day.
“Morfa Hall is a pay and display site, giving motorists who decide to park there the ability to pay using the onsite machines or online with RingGo.
“However, when Ms Williams parked there for over 12 minutes, she did so without paying and was correctly issued a charge.
“It is important to highlight that Smart Parking are proud members of the British Parking Association and strictly follow all of its guidelines."
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