Drivers take action against 'scam' shopping centre car park after they were handed £100 fines over misleading signs after change in rules

Published: 13:43, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 13:47, 13 April 2026 Trading Standards is investigating controversial parking fines after drivers complained of being 'conned' at a Southampton shopping centre. Thousands of pounds worth of fines are thought to have been issued at West Quay Retail Park since parking rules were changed last year. Motorists said they were forced to pay £100 fines because of misleading and confusing signs which are unclear on how to park after 8pm - frustrated drivers began a petition to urge a review of the 'unfair' measures. Britannia Parking changed the car park's rules in September, installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and new restrictions. Drivers said they were unable to pay for a ticket beyond 8pm but were fined nonetheless if they parked later than that time. Now Trading Standards have said the signs should be reviewed after the petition gathered 444 signatures. Jeremy Moulton, a member of Southampton City Council, said: 'I am really pleased Trading Standards have taken it seriously. They have agreed that the signage is unclear and the parking tariff arrangement is very unhelpful.' Motorist Ray Sivyour said he is appealing a £100 parking charge after being fined despite paying for what he believed was the maximum stay. Drivers have complained about the car park at West Quay Retail Park, which has seen motorists hit with £100 fines Jeremy Moulton said the signs were 'unclear' and that he was pleased they were being reviewed He said he left his car at the retail park on March 3, paying £3 for three hours from 5.54pm to 8.52pm, but later received a penalty notice claiming he had not paid enough. Mr Sivyour even argued he overpaid as the first hour after 8pm is free and described the system as 'very confusing' and 'a bit of a con.' He said: 'It is a very confusing and frustrating system and I don't understand how they can justify sending me a fine.' Another driver, Neil Allen, said he received two £100 fines after parking at West Quay on consecutive nights and will now avoid the car park entirely. He described the system as confusing and practically impossible to use, particularly after 8pm, and said the 'pay on arrival' instructions were misleading. Mr Allen added the experience had put him off visiting the area and he hoped the council would resolve the issues so others would not be caught out in the same way. Debbie Fernandes, another car park user, said she had been left 'stressed and overwhelmed' after receiving 16 parking fines at the shopping centre totalling nearly £1,000. The 66-year-old said she had parked at the site most mornings for the past five years, arriving at around 5am and buying coffee from McDonald's. Many regular users have been caught out by the new measures - until last year parking was free before 8am. Debbie said: 'I've done the same routine for years. When the first parking ticket came through, I knew there'd be more. Then the next day, six arrived at once. 'I now have 16 tickets at £60 each. I just don't have that kind of money. 'I didn't see a single new sign warning that parking had changed. It's caused me a huge amount of stress.' Ray Sivyour was fined despite paying for what he said he believed to be the maximum stay Car park restrictions at West Quay Retail Park were changed in September by Britannia Parking Football fan Clive Loosmore took his 12-year-old grandson to his first Southampton match at St Mary's Stadium in October and was fined £60 because the car park machine would only allow payment until 8pm. He said: 'I tried to pay until 11pm but the system wouldn't let me. The signage says you must pay on arrival - how are you expected to do that when your stay straddles 8pm? It's completely illogical.' Mr Loosmore has refused to pay while Trading Standards investigates. Mr Moulton said he believed that, because the council has decided to review the signage after deeming it confusing, people who have been fined should be refunded. He added: 'I want this resolved and to see fairness. I also want people not to be put off from coming to Southampton, whether to shop, to eat out, or visit the theatre, cinema, or come to the football.' Britannia Parking previously said that the signage 'exceeds the requirements' of the British Parking Association's Approved Operators Code of Conduct and confirmed that all appeals are handled 'on a case-by-case basis.' The company added: 'Customers who overstay or fail to enter their registration number to extend their stay are at risk of a parking charge. 'Any driver who is issued with a parking charge has the ability to submit an appeal, highlighting any extenuating circumstances for consideration.' A Southampton City Council spokesman said: 'Following a meeting between Southampton City Council Trading Standards, Public Protection and West Quay parking teams on Friday 27 March, the signage is currently being reviewed by West Quay Parking Services.'  In January it was revealed that motorists had paid a record £782million in parking fines to councils last year, £160million more than in the previous 12 months. Campaigners accused councils of using drivers as 'wallets on wheels' over the 26 per cent increase. And last month a foodbank was hit with £500 worth of parking tickets for overstaying just minutes in a Tesco drop-off bay to pick up donations. Meanwhile a grandmother was hit with a £270 fine after she claimed she was unable to pay for parking because of a broken ticket machine - she moved her car after 11 minutes but was hit with the bill less than two weeks later.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. 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