Skip to content

Long Buckby train passengers caught out by parking confusion

Nick Spann Man with ginger beard standing in front of treesNick Spann
Nick Spann said online information about the car park should be clearer and better signs are needed on site

People who park at a village railway station say they are being fined even though they have paid for parking online.

The car park at Long Buckby railway station near Daventry, Northamptonshire, has two sections which are run by different companies.

Drivers say this is not made clear online or at the site itself.

One of the companies has said the two car parks have separate entrances and it aims for "absolute clarity".

Martin Heath/BBC Car park showing most spaces full, with a separate car park to one sideMartin Heath/BBC
Although the Saba car park (to the left) is separate, many drivers are not aware of this when they enter the main car park

Jo Diprose fell foul of the system when she and a friend planned a trip to London.

Her friend searched online for parking at Long Buckby railway station and was directed to the site of the Saba parking company, which offered a space for a day for £6.

They booked a space each and parked side by side.

Jo Diprose Woman with long brown hair standing in a car parkJo Diprose
Jo Diprose paid online to park and believes it is not clear that there are two different car parks

She said: "We had our lovely day out and came back, no ticket on the car, but about three weeks later, I had a parking fine from the ANPR camera."

Ms Diprose appealed against the charge, issued by Total Parking Solutions, who manage the main part of the car park, but the appeal was rejected.

The company offered to reduce the fee to £20 as a goodwill gesture.

She said: "I don't think anyone would be looking [for different parking companies] when you feel you've done the right thing and booked a ticket.

Martin Heath/BBC Car park showing sign in the foreground and cars in most of the spacesMartin Heath/BBC
The Saba car park has a separate entrance but drivers say this is not made clear

Nick Spann also received a parking charge letter.

He said: "On the rail operators' websites, they reference Saba UK as being the car park operator.

"[My partner] dropped the car in the car park and didn't give it a second thought."

The "fine" arrived two weeks later.

Mr Spann said: "It needs to be stated more clearly on the operator websites that there are two car parks that have different charges applied to them by different operators.

"It needs to be clearer on the Saba website and it needs to be better signposted at the station."

Martin Heath/BBC Car park in front of a modern housing development Martin Heath/BBC
The main car park entrance leads into the Total Parking Solutions car park, not the Saba site, but drivers say this is not clear

A social media post by Ms Diprose had several responses from others who have been caught out.

Total Parking Solutions (TPS) said: "TPS oversees the parking arrangements at Long Buckby, boasting a separate entrance from the SABA-managed area. Our aim is absolute clarity for motorists always."

Saba have been invited to respond.

presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and X. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]