'I got a ticket for being stuck in a car park'

A driver has said she was "appalled" to receive a parking ticket after being stuck in a hospital car park because of an accident nearby.

Kate Witney paid to park at Lincoln County Hospital but was unable to leave because the exit and surrounding roads were gridlocked after an incident on the A15 eastern bypass.

A week later, Ms Witney, a singing teacher, received a ticket through the post for going over her time limit. Her appeal was turned down.

However, after the BBC contacted Parkingeye, a private company that operates the car park on behalf of United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals Trust, it said it would cancel the charge.

Ms Witney had driven to the hospital to pick up a friend on 15 November.

But when they tried to leave, the roads were at "a complete standstill" and she could not even get out of her parking space.

"It was clear looking up towards the road nothing was moving in either direction," she said.

"That continued for an hour and eventually things got moving and off we went.

"At the back of my mind I thought, 'I've gone over my parking, but so's everybody else and it's obviously out of my control'."

The car park has a camera recognition system that records when vehicles enter and leave.

Ms Witney wrote to Parkingeye explaining what happened, but her appeal was rejected.

She said "scores" of other drivers were stuck in the car park.

"They must have been wondering why they've got all these people going over their parking at the same time on the same day," she added.

"I just think it's appalling that a very serious accident on the bypass ends up being a nice little bonus for the parking firm."

After the BBC drew its attention to the case, Parkingeye conducted a "further review" and subsequently cancelled the charge.

A spokesperson said the firm had worked with the hospital over the past six years to "significantly improve how its car parks operate".

"During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors," they added.

The system was helping to "ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital".

The hospitals trust said three other people had received tickets, which had also been cancelled.

A spokesperson added: "We have been in contact with our parking enforcement provider, Parkingeye, and asked for these parking charge notices, issued between 5pm and 6pm on the day, to be cancelled.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this unforeseen issue."

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