大象传媒

As a Sunderland Businessman, I congratulate you on exposing the parking "scam" we have all had to suffer for a number of years.
Mr Herron deserves praise for the work he has done, almost single-handedly, in bringing these thieves to book. The programme, I feel, did not go far enough in some respects.

Customers and delivery drivers, going about their legitimate business, parking outside of my business premises, are regularly targeted, resulting in a downturn in trade.

Yet, just 2 miles away, parking attendants turn a blind eye to customers who park on double yellow lines, outside of a hot food take away in High Street West.

I have been there many times, bought lunch, and sat in the car for 20 minutes eating my lunch. In that time at least 2 parking attendants (sometimes more) walk past, but turn a blind eye to all of the cars and vans parked, having lunch. The question needs to be asked why?
M.Errington

For the first time in my life I felt ashamed to be from Sunderland and having spoken to work colleagues today I have discovered that every one of them felt the same. Whilst watching the programme I felt embarrassed about the impression the rest of the country would get from these images of incompetent, racist idiots acting like little Hitlers. Who on earth do they think they are?...

I hope the council treat them with the contempt they deserve and dismiss them immediately. This is the only way the city council will gain any respect over this matter from the majority of its citizens. Joan Reilly

I have had bad experience with Sunderland NCP too. I am a student that moved to the area and would not do again due to the appalling behaviour of the NCP staff in this city. I am a student at St Peter's Campus and drive to uni so obviously I need to park. Last year I received two parking tickets from NCP both of which I appealed against - and they basically said that they would not look into this.

I hold a pass for the university car park but there are thousands of students at this university, and trying to find a parking space in there is hell. Something needs to be done about the parking in the city and the staff of NCP. It also needs to be clearly signed where we can and cannot park as I and many other students have received parking tickets whilst being parked somewhere that we thought was allowed. The behaviour of the NCP staff on your documentary last night was appalling and they should be dismissed for their attitudes.
Michelle Grant

It is obvious that the whole parking enforcement programme in Sunderland is totally out of control. The council can't keep hiding from the problem and passing the buck to NCP. For me the worst thing was undoubtedly the racism.

It was shocking and totally uncalled for in this day and age. It was typical of the ignorance of racists all over. The community they were in is a Bangladeshi community, not a Pakistani community, and they all contribute massively to Sunderland, either in business or other ways. I am not hopeful that NCP or the Council will be as tough with this problem as they should though. Every last one of those attendants should lose their job immediately, and the council should set in place immediately a thorough review and overhaul of parking enforcement in the city.
Harry Flashman

I work as a service engineer and responded to a call to The Bridges shopping centre last week. I parked in the service yard there (on a single yellow line) because I have to carry tools & possibly parts to & from my van. I returned 27 minutes later to find I had received a penalty notice.

I asked the PA who was nearby why I had received the ticket & she replied, "you're only allowed 20 minutes for loading & unloading but feel free to appeal". I am sorry to say that I let her know exactly what I felt about her. I can appreciate that PA's have a job to do but I and many like me also serve the people of Sunderland. I've never experienced any problems in the much bigger cities of Newcastle & Middlesbrough. Whatever happened to common sense?
Paul Atkinson

Thanks for the excellent programme highlighting the problems in Sunderland which I have already come up against earlier this year.
I am wheelchair bound, and needed to park in the Civic car park for a short while. All the disabled bays were full so my husband and I had to park in an ordinary bay.

We set and displayed the time disc, and 'Bluebadge permit on the dashboard of our new Renault Megane Tourer, which is clearly fitted with a hoist to lift the wheelchair in and out. There is also a blue sticker, with the wheelchair logo on in the back window, requesting drivers to leave space behind the vehicle to allow access.

You can imagine our dismay to find a parking ticket on our return to the car, saying we had not paid and displayed a car park ticket.

The car park attendant had noted that the tax disc was only a month old, and clearly stated DISABLED. It went on to say that my blue badge was out of date [by 8 days which I was unaware of] and that I had a 拢30 fine for none payment of the car parking charge [拢60 if not paid within 14 days].

As you will know 'Blue Badges' are valid for a period of 3 years, and you are not sent a reminder. We live in Washington where all the car parks are free, therefore it is only rarely when we use a car park where there is a charge.

Technically the car park attendant was correct, however we did feel rather aggrieved, and thought a warning, pointing this out would have been more appropriate, but our appeal was rejected. We did renew the 'Bluebadge' later that day.

We are both pensioners, and 拢30 is a lot to pay when we thought we had done everything correctly.
Kathleen Grantham

I've just watched your programme on the antics of some of Sunderland's car parking attendants. The PA's in question should be sacked with immediate effect and charged under the Racial Discrimination Act. No wonder people of minority races feel victimised when you see some of the ignorance, disrespect and intolerance on show in this programme.

Well done the 大象传媒 for highlighting the issues covered. The damage done to Sunderland council may, however, be very costly if everyone who has unfairly been given a parking ticket tries to claim a refund due to the apparent incompetence that runs right through parking control on Wearside.
SV, Newcastle upon Tyne

Well done! You have exposed a problem that has been a disaster from the beginning. This treatment of the citizens of Sunderland, especially the hard working entrepreneurs and the Bangladeshi community should not be tolerated. Those involved and exposed in the programme should resign as they have lost the public's confidence.

What happened to the diversity training and interpersonal skills workshops which the council and partners are so proud to trumpet? Simple! They are not effective.

NCP and Sunderland council are suffering from some form of myopia or denial. The PR statement leaves a lot to be desired re: Racism. People have made complaints but these are not taken seriously nor carried through, due to lack of evidence or independent witness. Racism and attacks on innocent people of all races and creeds is increasing. Many people will not report this as it is impossible to convict and many do not want to be victimised.

The system within NCP and the council should have picked this problem and not waited for the 大象传媒 to expose them.
William Ang'awa

Hiya, as a Sunderland driver I was not surprised at all by watching your programme tonight. NCP and Sunderland Council need to start to listen to the complaints being received instead of ignoring them. Is the revenue is too high to lose, I wonder?
Gill Ellis

How pleased I was to finally see the traffic wardens of Sunderland been shown for all their worth (which is nothing). They have systematically tortured the people of Sunderland to the point where we dare not leave our vehicles for a single second. This behaviour applies all over Sunderland and not just in the town centre. They resemble an army of egotistical ants patrolling even the residential areas. I am so pleased and relieved that the 大象传媒 has highlighted the problem.
Mrs Denise Craig

An excellent programme... My wife has arthritis + has a disabled parking badge + we always park in a street very close to the Stadium of Light. About a year ago the renewal form for the badge was accidentally sent to the wrong address + renewal was delayed. We parked as usual but put a note of explanation beside the badge. We received a parking ticket-fair enough - but when I wrote + explained that I could prove that the delay was not our fault, + perhaps we might be treated sympathetically, we were dismissed out of hand + told to pay the fine!

I did this because I was told that although I could appeal, I would probably end up paying the full 拢60+ court costs. My wife + I always leave on 89 mins because of her arthritis + we passed cars illegally parked after each game-none had a ticket! Because of recent publicity regarding parking in Sunderland, I wrote again + asked for my money, even at this late stage, to be refunded. I was told that because I had paid without appeal, I had admitted guilt,+ that they did not refund where guilt was admitted!! They also said that the streets in question were patrolled every home game - lies!!!

As I seem to have come to a dead end, can you suggest where I might turn next other than the appeal court? Again can I say how much I enjoyed the programme.
Peter Barker

An interesting programme and there's certainly some food for thought for NCP. I live and work in Sunderland and am amazed at the amount of inconsiderate and illegal parking that goes on around the City. I was therefore a little disappointed by the tone of Mr Herron's comments which seemed to suggest that people should look for loopholes to avoid paying fines and to continue to park illegally (or at least inconsiderately).

Illegal parking causes an inconvenience to other people and may sometimes be dangerous if it causes an obstruction. I hope your programme does not (inadvertently) make the problem worse.
Whilst some of the practices highlighted in your programme are to be deprecated, I should like to see a more robust enforcement of parking regulations in the City. If people don't like paying fines, then they shouldn't park illegally.
Paul Dunlop

Bring your secret cameras into the northwest and I am fairly sure you will find irate people like you found in Sunderland. There is no discretion whatsoever by Parking Attendants now since they were transferred out of the control of the Local Authorities.

On salient point stood out in this evening's programme - the number of streets that have to be shown to have been visited by the Parking Attendants. So that the company concerned can send in returns to show the Sunderland City Council what they are paying for. This in itself is open to question. Also for the NCP manager to state that there were "no targets " set for the Traffic Wardens! - they have to show that they have to "Pay their Way" to the Council hiring them. In the Northwest it is Park Wise - Preston.

As for the right to appeal it is a waste of time even thinking about it. First you write a letter to the Company who issued the ticket stating your case. You receive a letter back from them pay up the 拢30 or if you go over the time limit 拢60. (The time limit will be in close proximity to you receiving the letter) It is a veiled threat that you are wasting your time to write to the Adjudicator because he will back the company up.

This whole issue is "highway robbery" and that is the one thing that you programme did get spot on. It is time the whole issue was overhauled and put back under the control of Local Authority's. Discretion is in short supply by most Traffic Warden however I do accept that a lot of motorists deserve being slapped with a ticket for their indiscretion in where they leave their cars.
Bob Hammond

I'm a mum of a disabled child. I've been tortured for years by the traffic wardens outside my house. I had 2 disabled children, 1 has died and the other also is terminally ill. Since they discovered my difficulties when I was in the echo last January, nothing has been done except I've been told by several traffic wardens they wouldn't ticket me, even tho they were told to make an example of me to being told that they've been told not to ticket me. I can park anywhere. I assume that may change after tonight's programme. Who knows, they make the rules up as they go as we now all know. Thank you. What a disgraceful bunch - I hope they are sacked first thing.
Jan from Sunderland

Congratulations on your programme. If the allegations made are true and the programme evidence appears to be unrefutable then:

NCP should be sacked.

All supervisors and managers from NCP who used foul and abusive language in their management duties should be sacked.

All council officials responsible for monitoring the contract and who are responsible for the legalities of parking in Sunderland should be sacked.

Thank God I don't live in Sunderland - it appears that the City Council are in a state of utter uselessness.

It may seem that I take a hard line - I was fortunate enough to work for a world class organisation for 37 years, they required the highest legal & moral standards, and the behaviour, by some, exhibited on your programme would have justified immediate dismissal.
Bob Mullard

Parking attendants have a field day at the Sunderland Royal Hospital, on Kayll Road. People visiting sick and dying relatives then have the "MISFORTUNE" of being faced with a parking ticket on their return to their vehicle.

I have seen them turn up on mopeds at visiting times, along with a camera. The contract should be withdrawn and given back to the police. Police now have community wardens who could ensure safe parking within their area.

SACK THE LOT OF THEM
Debnians

As a resident of Sunderland, and a human being I found the programme to be an absolute confirmation of my own experiences and suspicions about the service since it was handed over to the private sector.

I look forward to hearing about the sacking of all of the featured members of staff...

The shallow assurances given regarding staff training, and the complaints procedures prove time and time again to be nothing more than an exercise designed to look great on paper, but having no substance whatsoever for those people genuinely and unfairly affected.

The finger should also be firmly pointed at Sunderland Council who clearly have ineffective methods of monitoring and maintenance of standards to protect the public.

Well done for 大象传媒 North East for such an excellent programme.
John Adams

You have answered my prayers! I was intending to bring to light the fraudulent issuing of tickets in Sunderland to my MP Mr Frazer Kemp in the Houses of Parliament. I was about to do my own investigations because as a family we were tired of receiving DELIBERATE wrongly applied parking tickets. I am YOUNG DISABLED DRIVER, (39YRS) which means I am always targeted because I m young and I am perceived to be too young to have a blue disabled badge.

Most recently I was issued a ticket when my car was not present at the time of issue! I returned to my vehicle having parked on a SINGLE yellow line behind Mary Street having displayed my badge correctly and clock correctly. I was puzzled as to how I could have been given this ticket as I was allowed to park there with my disabled badge. Having checked carefully why I was issued the ticket I noticed the time stated on the ticket was wrong. The ticket was issued before I had parked and left my parked vehicle!

I then took photographs of the badge displayed and the clock time displayed and the street and the single line of which I was parked upon for evidence. I returned home to telephone the ticket office and advised them the ticket was deliberately issued incorrectly. I was them read out the attendants pocket book entry, it read "I explained appeal he said nothing and drove away". I was astonished because I am FEMALE. I did not see any attendant, I did not speak to any attendant and I am female! The ticket had been made up I believe because I appealed against a ticket the previous week on another street(Burdon Road). My appeal has been denied and I am continuing to appeal and I hold photographic evidence.

My daughter has also had the same experience having appealed a ticket whilst displaying the blue badge she uses to escort my aunt when shopping she was then targeted again by the same attendant. Each time the ticket was knowingly issued falsely.

The attendant had issued MY ticket before I had left the car and fabricated storey about who I was. I informed the headquarters that was to investigate and contact my MP and the manner in which I was spoken to left a lot to desire. In fact I double checked the information given from the pocket book entry that it was for my car by speaking to a gentleman in the office to double check the reg number before I contacted my MP and it was right the fabricated entry was for my car! I was then telephoned back by the first rude lady from head quarters and informed that the phone calls were recorded I replied, "well good it will work in my favour then". I then took the opportunity to state that the attendant had fabricated the storey and that I was female and that I would be speaking to my MP.

I am more than happy to speak to any reporter about my experiences and would like to thank you for doing what I was about to set about doing and that was to highlight the dishonest ticketing in Sunderland, I am now not willing to give Sunderland town centre my business now I can not afford the ticket cost I shop in Newcastle now!
Miss Bate

Having watched your programme on parking in Sunderland I despair! It would seem to me that the council and NCP are in cahoots and "do not want to know". Frankly I feel ashamed of the once proud city where I live. The police should investigate immediately and where appropriate prosecute.
F.C.Robson

My son was a Beach Lifeguard in Sunderland. While on his lunch break, an emergency call came through on his radio. He raced back to the sea front and left his car (watched by the Warden) outside the Pullman Lodge on the seafront. He was given a Parking Ticket. When he returned to his car after the emergency (dripping wet) to take it to the Resorts car park, he spoke to the Traffic Warden and explained the circumstances. He had to pay a fine!! This was reimbursed about a year later but ONLY because of the fact he had used a taxi rank... What if someone had drowned because my son couldn't find anywhere to park his car?
Joan

One day I was parked at the back of the town centre, I could not get into a disabled bay, so I parked at the other side. On a single yellow line. I placed my badge and timer on the dash the right way round, as you would get a ticket if it was not. But I forgot to put the time on my clock for three hours and was given a ticket. I telephoned the number on the ticket and explained the situation, no symphony was given over the telephone, the only thing I found out was that they did not have to inform us apart from the information that we receive when we renew our badges about time limits on single yellow lines. I told her that it was my first ticket in thirty years of driving, and could that be a little lenient about this ticket. I was told by to pay the ticket before a given time or I would be charged double, no consideration, and it was like talking to a text book.
P. Larcombe

Having watched your program tonight it merely confirmed my view that disabled parkers get a raw deal in Sunderland. I received a ticket for parking in Burdon Road despite displaying both blue badge and clock with correctly set time, apparently Burdon Road is a loading area despite being parked over 50 yards from any business.

I was so incensed I drove round Sunderland and by chance actually found the attendant who had issued the ticket. He said I should write to NCP and took notes of the conversation though I realise now it was just a diversion tactic as I was going to be stung anyway. I have never asked for any preferential treatment but I am glad that your program has highlighted the inconsistency of it all.
Rob Williams

Just saw your coverage about Sunderland's disgraceful system. I myself is working in the council. And everyday you would certainly feel people intimidating other nationalities like me.

It would not be a surprise to many of us "Asians" why they've become oblivious of being alienated. It is purely of great jealousy of them being overtaken generally, (they see us working very hard to earn money, they see how we raise our children properly and thought them sufficiently to be ahead in their classes, and they can see how we progress and survive on our daily hard earned life) and the reasons and causes goes on and on.

There were gigantic stories of racism here in Sunderland but I think its because almost who've been victimised are professionals, they've intended to comprehend the situation and not retaliate and that includes me." I'm sure it would be an interesting documentary if you would investigate it even further".

From my point of view, Sunderland's history and geography plays an important role on why citizens here are too young to accept DIVERSITY. In fact, many Asians came here because the government hired them to help in the Health service. It's very shameful to them and mostly to the elder one's who encourage racism...

It's been heart warming seeing works like you did on presenting real issues. As you've mentioned, it will raise a lot of questions and hope it does'nt result to negative retaliation. We only wish this won't be the last of your investigation.
AJClem

I used to live in St Georges Way, Ashbrooke, Sunderland. Myself and my family were tortured by the Pa's I was given a parking ticket outside my own house in front of the garage because they said part of one wheel was on a yellow line. They also kept changing the parking restrictions. One day a PA would tell you it was ok to park on the grass at the back of the house.
My daughter and a friend received a ticket for parking on the grass. The next time they came I was told not to park on the grass. I actually went to the Civic Centre to ask where in fact I could park. There attitude was awful - "you can't park anywhere unless its after 6pm or a Sunday. I was told my son would have to park his car 4 streets away from where we lived. A few weeks after this a house was being renovated at the back of my house 8 vans were actually parked on the grass, I spoke to one of the owners he said he had been told by the Civic they could park there. I actually lived there and told I couldn't park there.

A few days later the vans were actually parked on the grass and some on a single yellow line outside my house, I could not get to my garage so had to park on the single yellow line. When I went out I had a parking ticket , but none of the vans. I took photographs sent them to the civic and refused to pay. They sent me a letter saying they had doubled my fine to 拢60. I never paid it.I rang them again and was told the parking bays with the single yellow line were for disabled cars.I asked then why was I originally told no one could park there as it was a turning point for emergency vehicles.

Later another PA said we could park on a single yellow line as the no parking sign wasn't within the specified amount of metres from the parking bays (which were for disabled). My son and myself both parked there and received tickets again. We both refused to pay. After all this hassle I decided to move just because of it. I loved where I lived but the PA 's made my life a misery.

It was a disgrace because there obviously were no set guidelines because one didn't know what the other was doing.

The NCP and the COUNCIL are a disgrace, and need to get it sorted properly.
Maria Henderson

Watched the programme with interest, as a disabled Blue Badge Holder. A few years ago, I was parked in Ridley Place, Newcastle in a marked Disabled Parking Bay, with my Blue Badge on the dashboard, and when I got back to my car I had been ticketed, the attendant had thought that I was parked in a Loading Bay, but the sign was behind my car, as was the badly painted white line on the road. If he/she had taken the time to check things properly, they would have found that I was quite legally parked. I went to the Central Ticket Office, and a few days later received a letter cancelling my ticket.
Peter Wilson

Having just watched your programme, I felt I must let you know about my recent "run in" with a parking attendant in Sunderland.

I had taken my 77 year old grandmother shopping and parked in High Street next to Crowtree leisure centre along side a number of other cars. I displayed my grandmother's disabled badge (both blue badge and clock set correctly) and set about taking my grandmother shopping. When I returned 2 hrs later, I had received a parking ticket, apparently the whole of that street is a loading bay?? I have appealed against the ticket and heard nothing back coincidentally the 28 days before the fine increases from 拢30 to 拢60 has just passed!!

After watching your programme I have got the distinct impression that it is because I had a disabled parking badge on my car that I was targeted. It was a genuine mistake and a simple warning would have been enough, but evidently it is because they assumed that the car belonged to (in their words) a spakka it would be better to issue a fine. My grandmother as mentioned is 77 years old she has a disabled parking permit because she is disabled and cannot walk very far the treatment of the people of Sunderland by theses bullies is appalling, regardless of race, disability or area they live in we have the right not to be hounded.
If you can offer any advice as to what would be my next course of action it would be much appreciated.
Mrs Gemma Thomson

I have only recently paid a parking fine in Sunderland. My husband is the holder of a disabled badge and we parked outside the Empire Theatre where our daughter was watching a show (aged 11) with a Library attended organisation from Washington, Tyne & Wear. There was a yellow line painted on the curb, but couldn't find anything to explain what this meant for disability badge holders, as we have parked there on numerous occasions and thought it must have always been there! I actually looked to see if there were any signs at all in the vicinity stating what the yellow painted line meant, as a disabled badge holder we are aware we can park on double yellow lines for up to three hours as long as it doesn't cause obstruction. So we thought in this case we would be OK in the allocated time of the three hours parking!

We had left the car for 1/2 hour to go for a coffee while our daughter was still in the show as we didn't want to get there late for her to be waiting alone in the city centre, on our return at 4:20pm we found a parking ticket which stated that we shouldn't have parked there after 4pm! Nothing at all was on a sign to state this. We wouldn't have parked there if we had known! The fine had to be paid in 14 days to pay 拢30.00 or it would be 拢60.00 after the 14 days. I spoke to the attendant who issued the ticket, he had a broad smile on his face told me that I should 'just know how to park' I asked him who I should write to, so I could appeal on the fine, he told me the City Council, but I was wasting my time because they purposely put it to one side until after the 14 days and I would have to pay 拢60.00. He laughed and walked away! I haven't been to Sunderland since and it is my home City. I would hate to think what visitors think of us
Bev

I am truly shocked by the evidence submitted in the programme last night, particularly in relation to the racism. These people must be sacked immediately. Why should they be allowed to operate in out city.
C Young

I've lived in Sunderland all my life and was not aware that these attendants acted in such a disgraceful manner. I cannot put into words how ashamed I am to see how this disgusting attitude is going on in the town ive always been proud of. I also didn't realise there was so many rules stating what could and couldn't be enforced regarding different types of parking areas within the town. I certainly wont take take for granted any parking tickets I may get in the future. Thank you 大象传媒 for making the public more aware of what has been going on!!!
Joanne from Sunderland

The parking wardens were totally out of order and acted disgracefully. It would have made more interesting television if you had provided your information to the Council so they could have acted accordingly and reported back on their actions. However, this would not have been as dramatic if the Council were given the opportunity to act.

More importantly, the bottom line seems to have been missed in your reporting. The purpose of waiting restrictions are there for the free flow of traffic. Parking on restrictions should be condoned not promoted as good practice as your show made out. Again this is evidence that opting out of services is not always the best option in terms of value for money.

Where restrictions are identified as incorrect in terms of the order then enforcement should not occur until it is rectified. The fact the order is incorrect does not make it any safer to allow parking. After all who would be responsible if an emergency vehicle can not gain access due to metric martyrs. Not sure why the Council should advertise it as incorrect and parking tickets not issued surley this is contrary to public safety.
Adrian

I used to live in Sunderland, my family still live there. I was 20 when I first started driving in Sunderland and the enforcement there was absolutely great. I got a parking ticket every . My mum is disabled and to drop her off and walk her into the Bridges I would come out and hey presto a parking ticket, if you caught the officer, they would just blank you and say you shouldn't have left your car, I think they are ignorant and they should have a dr. off zone for those helping the disabled, but because I am young they think that he has no rights... I once caught the officer as he was writing out a ticket - I said, hey I've got badges on the car - he said I can't read them they are upside down. I was in a hurry but you could still read all info on the badge, I still got the ticket...

To this day there must be at least 30 outstanding tickets for me and I refuse to pay them I will stand up and tell the world why as well.
Shaun

As regards to the racism brought up in your programme, if the parking attendants are from Sunderland then the racism comes as no surprise to me. I suggest you go undercover in the general public in Sunderland as racism is seen as normal by many. It reminds me of the ignorance I grew up exposed to in the eighties.
PJ

Cracking programme last night - was really shocked at the behaviour of the NCP staff 聳 hope the council have taken the evidence on board and we get a positive reaction today (NCP should have the contract cancelled 聳 if they are responsible then they should be accountable too). Well done.
E McCready

Hello there, I'm just writing to say good work in the 'Sunderland traffic cops' episode. I just hope some justice comes to these narrow minded, hate filled people. if sections of our law enforcement are so corrupt, nihilistic and all around ignorant, then it can never lead to prosperity and acceptance. This is not the time for hate, racism and apathy, and hopefully your good work will help to rectify these sorts of things. Keep it up.
Justin

Last night's programme re parking in Sunderland was a very good piece of journalism. However the whole programme was reduced to sensationalism and lacked gravitas because the Manager was not given the opportunity to respond after he had seen the evidence. If he had been given the opportunity and declined this should have been made clear.
Jacqueline Wells