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Parking fines: Have you received a nasty surprise in the mail?

28 May 2009
The new two hour parking restrictions at Gala Water Retail Park has been in the news lately, with people complaining that they've missed the signs and were shocked to receive penalty notices for fines of £75 in the post. The Telegraph reported that anyone staying more than two hours will be hit with the compulsory notice.

What do you think of the regulations? How do you cope with the parking situation in Gala?
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29 May 2009 | 7:40:46

Bill Baird says

The best way to cope with the new parking fines in Galashiels for M&S, Next etc is to boycot the shops alltogether and don't encourage them and if their sales drop they will either have a re-think or go away somewhere else - they think the people of Gala are a soft touch, think again. They must not think very much of their stores if they are only going to give you two hours, I know a lot of women out there who could spend that in one shop before moving on to another.
But saying that there is no long stay car park in Gala now for free as they have now shut the Netherdale car park to the driver training and motorbike training and the kind hearted SBC gave them a free let of the only long stay FREE car park in Currie Road, so where else have the people to go to.

17 Jun 2009 | 7:13:08

frank bradford says

Well if people would not park their cars there and then walk to work and leave their cars there all day, meaning the people who are shopping can't get parked, they may not hae been forced to put the new parking regulations into force. So it is the small minority of us who are to blame in the first place, so if you're looking for someone to blame find the workers who have been parking here all day and get them to pay your fines.

26 Jun 2009 | 10:08:32

Brian Forrest says

Funny thing...I understood there is no law of trespass in Scotland, which means unless you are causing criminal damage you are allowed to go anywhere without let or hindrance...this practice needs to be tested in Court. I think the fairest solution might be to revisit an old idea--charge people a reasonable amount to park, but refund the cost to genuine shoppers at the till...

9 Jul 2009 | 12:00:09

frank bradford says

I don't think so, they do the same thing at Somerfield and u get your money back if u spend more than 5 pounds in store, sounds ok! Funny thing is I done that last week and spent over 20 pounds on fags and got told I am not entitled to money back, just shows us smokers are discriminated against, so that is why I am against the idea of paying to park.

12 Aug 2009 | 10:07:06

theresa jardine says

I got the nasty surprise brown envelope yesterday and am HORRIFIED to say the least! Shop local?? Not a chance now - I thought I would browse around the sales and enjoy all the shops had to offer easily losing 3 hours in the process never imagining someone was rubbing their hands together ready to impose a fine at my expense. Signs? What signs - come on Galashiels get a grip and say NO way to this bureacracy gone mad!!!!!

28 Apr 2010 | 6:55:42

sasha stamenkovic says

I have to say I didn't see the signs -it being a sunny saturday, we parked and walked through the town to ceramic experience to pick up the children, and did some shopping on the way back. We thought we were being green by not driving and parking several times, but we have been hammered for it with this fine. With no long term parking does this mean we need a park and ride scheme?

28 Apr 2010 | 11:31:16

Freda McLay says

I too got the nasty brown envelope today...I never even saw a sign indicating restricted parking times. I spent the whole of the afternoon shopping with my granddaughter...ALL of it in the retail park. and spent a LOT of money. Not any more, I was a great supporter of "shop local" now my shopping trips will take me to the free parking at the retail parks in Edinburgh, not very green I know...but I'm livid!

F McLay

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