Fury over "disgraceful" parking problems at Watford car park

Last week, the Watford Observer reported that dozens of customers at the Gade Car Park in Rosslyn Road were being wrongly fined for parking they had lawfully paid for.

• Fury over 'faulty' payment machines at Watford car park

• Anger as three town centre car parks go cashless

The Gade was one of three CitiPark managed town centre car parks to go fully cashless last month - a move that was branded "a joke" at the time.

Issues have now been reported at the Church multi-storey car park in Exchange Road, also managed by CitiPark.

Peter Ginn says he was stung by the "faulty" cashless system when he paid for his parking last month - only to be hit with two separate £100 fines (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days).

Peter said: "It said I'd paid and as far I was concerned that was it."

Not getting a receipt  would prove to be costly when he received the fine days later.

He paid the first summons "to get it out of the way", but was dismayed when on October 4 he received another fine for not paying for parking.

On both occasions, he says that his bank statements show payments of £2 to CitiPark.

"People need to be aware of this and get a receipt at this car park because these people are terrible", he said.

He added that the situation is "disgraceful" and has left him feeling that he should avoid the car park or risk being repeatedly fined.

Garston resident James Kelly told the Watford Observer last week that he had received two fines at the Gade car park, claiming that the situation is "tantamount to theft".

James Kelly is among those who say they have been wrongly fined. (Image: James Kelly) Along with the Church and Gade car parks, the Sutton car park in Exchange Road went cashless in September, although there have been no complaints of similar issues at time of writing.

When the move was made, residents reacted furiously, suggesting the move would negatively impact the elderly.

CitiPark has been contacted for comment.