A REQUEST to refund car park users who were asked to pay for parking on bank holidays was made by a Wokingham resident.
Chas Hockin attended the executive meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, June 29, and wanted to know why machines in the car parks had taken payments on days when parking was free.
“What plans do the council have to ensure that if charges are made on Bank Holidays in the future the machines will not take them?” he asked.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, the executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “All our car park ticket machines are programmed not to charge bank holidays. For any additional special bank holidays, such as the Golden Jubilee, the council installed notification signs at each ticket machine.”
Mr Hockin said the response did not answer his question, and he wanted an explanation as to what had happened to money taken by the council for bank holiday parking.
Cllr Fishwick repeated his answer, while deputy council leader Cllr Prue Bray said the income went into the car parking funds.
Mr Hockin then said the council had taken money “and you’ve not tried to give it back to the people who paid incorrectly”.
Cllr Bray interrupted him pointing out that at executive and council meetings, members of the public were only allowed to ask a question and a follow-up, known as a supplementary. “I understand your frustration, but that is the answer. I will talk to you after the meeting if you want to continue the conversation,” she continued.
Wokingham Today understands Mr Hockin did meet with councillors afterwards to air his concerns.
