Disabled man fined £300 over 'mistake' after re-joining gym to help symptoms

Disabled man fined £300 over 'mistake' after re-joining gym to help symptomsMarcus Le-Count, 63, was issued three £100 parking charges at Arcadia Leisure Centre in Levenshulme, Manchester, after he didn't register his motability car under a new systemNewsAnders Anglesey News Reporter10:11, 13 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesMarcus Le-Count, 63, was hit with a letter demanding £100 for a parking charge (Image: Manchester Evening News)Gym chiefs have issued an apology after slapping a disabled customer with £300 in fines.‌However, Marcus Le-Count has labelled the apology as 'disingenuous' and insists he won't back down until the service is 'managed properly'. Marcus, 63, unwittingly fell foul of the rules after re-joining Arcadia Leisure Centre in Levenshulme to help alleviate his arthritis symptoms.‌He parked his motability car, displaying his blue badge, outside the gym on March 17. But just days following his initial visit, Marcus was hit with a letter from UK Parking Patrol Office demanding £100 for a 'parking charge'.‌View 3 ImagesMarcus Le-Count is protesting against parking policy(Image: Manchester Evening News)READ MORE: Motability black box rule starts today - drivers have 10 days to complete setupREAD MORE: 'I'm disabled with two kids - cruel people still ask why my husband's with me'"As soon as I got it my stomach churned. And I had no idea that another two fines were on the way," he recalled. A letter from the parking firm alleges Marcus had 'failed to register for the duration of stay' on private land outside the leisure centre on February 17. He claims he was unaware he needed to register his vehicle upon arrival - a procedure implemented since his last gym membership.It was an innocent oversight, one he says he wasn't alerted to when he signed up for a new contract with Better - the company operating the leisure centre. By week's end, Marcus found himself owing £300...