Parking Eye fines resident and business permit holders at Weymouth car park near Brewer's Quay

Even an official parking attendant was slapped with a fine on the car park behind Brewer's Quay, which has a section for permit holders run by Dorset Council and a section run by private firm Parking Eye.

Although they say they have been using the correct area of the site, permit holders have been left angry after being snapped by Parking Eye's CCTV cameras entering and leaving the site through the single entrance - and fined £100.

Nearby resident Sally Drysdale, who pays the council for a yearly parking permit, said she is in a state of 'absolute, total anger' after receiving two fines from Parking Eye - one of which she successfully appealed, and the other which she must still pay.

She said: "It's just a joke, but when you're talking £100 it's not funny. We have permits and are allowed to go in and out of the entrance.

Picture: Michelle Ludlow

"I know of a colleague at one of the local bars who's had one fine, another friend has had two - both of which she appealed and was unsuccessful. Another friend has three. I just expect them to come through the door every day now.

"You are literally watching the post every day. We have to drive in and out an an angle to avoid the camera, which could cause an accident. It's ridiculous."

Mary Harris, co-owner of the Old Harbour Dive Centre, said: "The photographs sent by Parking Eye show that I'm not even in the car park. We assume the camera has got skewed round.

"It's really aggravating. We're a small business struggling like everybody else due to Covid-19 and have got to take time out to write letters - there's nobody at Parking Eye you can actually speak to. I'm just waiting for the next fine."

Charles Calvert who works at nearby Bussells Chandlers and also has a parking permit, was shocked to receive two fines.

He said: "I've never used their car park. Parking Eye has got to take responsibility for this. I'm not going to ring the council and shout and scream at the poor lady just trying to do her job. I wrote to the appeals process and have had nothing back."

Dorset Council said it is also trying to contact Parking Eye. A spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem, and while we can’t comment on individual parking tickets, officers in Dorset Council's Parking Services team have tried to contact Parking Eye to alert them to this issue. We are currently waiting for a response."

The Echo has approached Parking Eye for a comment.

Picture: Michelle Ludlow