Controversial Nelson parking boss creates stir in Dorset

8:50pm Sunday 20th July 2008

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A PARKING firm boss who sparked outrage in Pendle is at the centre of fresh controversy after setting up in Dorset.

Earlier this year Matthew Brough was accused in the House of Commons of "wholly unacceptable" business practices by Pendle MP Gordon Prentice.

The concerns prompted landlords of the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, to sack Mr Brough’s company Effective Car Parking Management from managing its car park.

Mr Prentice later revealed Mr Brough had set up another company called Nupark Car Parks.

And now a raft of complaints have been made by residents of Dorset town Ferndown after Nupark was appointed to manage a pub car park.

Drivers have been given £75 fines for turning round, stopping or even parking legitimately in the car park.

One van driver is believed to have received 28 tickets and a hairdresser was landed with 42 tickets.

The White Heather pub landlady said she had brought in NuPark Car Parks due to the amount of people leaving their cars who were not customers.

Tickets are being posted to the owner of any vehicle caught on camera crossing into the car park, unless the owner has left registration number at the bar.

NuPark uses ANPR technology to record car numberplates and pays the DVLA a fee for driver details.

The situation mirrors what happened at Lomeshaye. Thousands of tickets issued by Effective Car Parking Management were eventually ripped up in February and Trading Standards launched an investigation.

Mr Brough defended his firm’s actions at the Dorset pub.

He said: “We could not make it more obvious with the signs.

"The cameras are painted bright yellow. There are numerous warning signs.

"I think it is very fair. We have been prepared to put members of staff there to meet people face to face, to cancel them [the tickets].

"We make it quite easy for people to appeal. We do not use premium rate phone numbers."