Anyone else got a parking fine at the Sainsbury's Forest Hill?

[Spangles30]

I was absolutely mortified to see a parking ticket being issued on my car in the aforementioned car park (which is Lewisham Borough run but attached to the Sainsbury). I pleaded with the parking attendant to no avail. I was two minutes late; one is allowed 30 minutes 'free' parking, but I had been delayed at the till with an item which was over-priced. In short, the sales assistant had to get a supervisor to go to the shelves and check the item - and I was given it for the reduced price.

I got the Deputy store manager down to the car park as I was very upset. He said about 15-20 people are upset like this weekly - but what is Sainsbury's doing about it?

Has anyone else had this misfortune? What is one to do if you are delayed at the till (all detailed on my receipt), through no fault of your own? Is it worth appealing to Lewisham council as I was 2 MINUTES late!

I have gone off the idea of moving to Forest Hill rapidly - and I won't use that store again.

[zephyr]

The car park does not belong to Sainsbury's so they cannot actually do anything about it. I got done a few years ago for being a couple of minutes late. I got the impression the warden just wandered round the car park watching and waiting.

[Spangles30]

Yes Zephyr, that seems to be the case. This is a nasty, money making venture by Lewisham Council. I am told that Sainsbury has asked repeatedly to buy the car park, as the management is unhappy that so many customers have been clobbered like this. The council, apparently, resolutely refuses to even contemplate selling.

I would warn people to be very careful if they drive to and park at that Sainsburys. I won't be going there again, and I was fairly regular as I go that way to and from work.

[zephyr]

Saying that, there is a patrol round the Sainsbury's car park at DKH now. We park there sometimes if we are going for an appointment at Kings but you only get two hours - makes sense I suppose. The lewisham carpark is a joke and I have never gone back there (must have been about 6 years ago)

[Spangles30]

I have just received some good news from one of the councillors responsible for the area around Forest Hill. This came about as I rang Lewisham council to query my fine, and I had to reluctantly pay it.

The said councillor says that the parking situation at the Forest Hill Sainsbury's is soon to change. He said the store is losing money as a result of Lewisham council's stranglehold of the adjoining car park. He went on to say:-

"As local Councillors we have had a meeting with the Store manager and discussed our concerns and I am pleased to say following a recent subsequent meeting it now looks like this issue will be concluded fairly shortly.

The agreement reached between Sainsbury's and the Council will be that the Council will lease the car park to Sainsbury's and they will be responsible for its running operation maintenance and the control of parking. Sainsbury's plan to install an automatic number plate recognition system to extend the free parking time to 3 hours and impose a charge of ?80 beyond that time to ensure that the car park is only used for shopping.

We feel that this will improve the situation and provide a way forward."

Only thing is, I was not told when these changes would be implemented.

For the moment, I will stick with the tried and tested (and cheaper) Morrisons in Peckham!!!