Drivers overcharged in error at Bognor Regis carpark

Increased fees have been mistakenly imposed by Arun District Council at the Hotham Park car park. The error means drivers at the central beauty spot have been paying up to 20 per cent too much since October 1.

The extra revenue generated by the excess charges is unknown, but the car park's 57 spaces have been busy this week with families keen to enjoy the fine weather at the newly-extended park. There were some 20 cars there at lunchtime on Tuesday and about 30 yesterday morning.

One of the motorists visiting yesterday on holiday, Doncaster man Alex Salter, said: "It's quite annoying to be charged too much but it is not an excessive amount to pay. It could have been a lot worse."

The increased charges which the council mistakenly brought in mean that stays of up to an hour cost 60p, those for up to two hours 1.20 and for longer visits 2.40.

The charges should have been 50p, 1 and 2.

An Arun senior councillor, Paul Wotherspoon, whose responsibilities include parking, had told Bognor town councillors that the charges would stay the same after those at other sites '“ such as Gloucester Road and Rock Gardens '“ went up on October 1.

He stated that he wanted Hotham Park's fees to be maintained until the results of a district-wide car parking strategy were known.

An Arun spokeswoman admitted the error when the new charges were queried by the Observer.

She said: "We've made a mistake. Cllr Wotherspoon did agree to keep the charges at the park at last winter's level. We apologise for putting up the charges in the park and we will change them back again as soon as we can. That is likely to be by the end of this week."

Cllr Paul Wells, a district councillor for Hotham ward, said: "I am disappointed that Arun have made a mistake on this occasion. I would like them to put matters right as soon as possible.

"They have let down the town council on this matter as well as the people of the town."

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