VISITORS to a West Somerset beauty spot have lambasted the operators of a nearby car park, describing the operation as a ‘scam’.

Kilve Beach lies at the bottom of Sea Lane, Kilve, just off the busy A39.

The beach is a popular attraction for tourists wishing to walk along the West Somerset coast, looking for fossils on the beach or to explore the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Many who visit the area by car use the Kilve Beach car park, which was granted retrospective permission to expand by Somerset West and Taunton Council in April, 2021.

But Premier Park Ltd, an Exeter-based firm which runs the private car park, has been pilloried over the years by visitors, who have accused it of issuing needless penalty notices to motorists.

The car park is built on land owned by the nearby East Quantoxhead Estate and uses automatic numberplate recognition cameras (ANPR) to track vehicles as they enter and exit.

Now, a fresh round of complaints about the car park operators has surfaced, with Nigel Vile, a member of the West Wiltshire Ramblers, raising the issue on the group’s official Facebook page before a recent excursion to Minehead.

Mr Vile said: “I might have to re-think my Kilve walk on the way back from Minehead on account of countless parking issues there.

The beach car park in Sea Lane, Kilve
The lane leading to the beach car park in Sea Lane, Kilve. (Daniel Mumby)

“Search ‘Kilve Parking’ online and you will find many complaints. Think I might offer a walk from the RSPB Reserve at Steart Marshes instead.

“I rang the company and, of course, it is not possible to talk to a human being.”

Mr Vile, who lives in Trowbridge, posted a number of anonymous reviews of the car park on social media, some dating back as far as August, 2020.

One review stated: “I parked on Boxing Day – never saw any meter or notice, I stayed for 59 minutes. I received a £100 charge in the post with photographs of my car.

“It is an interesting bit of coast but terrible parking trap for unsuspecting visitors.

“It is disgraceful that our country is turning a blind eye to these parking ‘scammers’.”

Another visitor wrote: “I took six minutes to look for change and walk back to the meter to buy a ticket. I received a £70.00 fine.

“It is disgusting [for Premier Park] to say I did not pay for the whole period, when no account is taken for realising there is only one meter and that is back up the lane and takes a few minutes to get there.”

A further visitor commented: “Take a photograph of your ticket and gather evidence of your parking, you will need it later as Premier Park Ltd will be sending a PCN to the registered keeper, with images of your car driving in and out of the property.

“It’s a typical parking scam. The East Quantoxhead Estate must take full ownership of this issue as they own the land.”

Numerous, similar criticisms have been posted on the beach’s Tripadvisor online review page.

‘Eyebellyfoot’ commented: “Beware of the car park. I received a fine despite having a ticket for the appropriate time and have heard this from others.

“Luckily, I had my ticket and so it was cancelled, others were not so lucky. A blatant ‘scam’ creating unnecessary stress and hassle for a short Sunday walk.”

‘Denclen’, from Wellington, said: “Premier Park issue parking charge notices at the drop of a hat even when you have complied with their ‘regulations’.

“They then scare you into paying their ‘fine’ even when you have done nothing wrong.

“We will not be going to this beach again unless the owners of the land get rid of these parking bandits.”

‘Noel J’, from Taunton said: “I have been given a fine for overstaying on Boxing Day.

“A plague upon the land owner, the parking company and the pathetic local councillors who acquiesced to the ANPR parking scheme.

“You would have thought that by now the parking fees would have paid for pothole repairs, clean toilets, and a surface that did not resemble the Somme – but no.”

Premier Park Ltd was approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service but did not respond to requests for comment.

Somerset Council has confirmed it cannot carry out enforcement action on the site because the car park is not publicly operated.

A spokesman said: “The car park is not an asset of the council. It belongs to the East Quantoxhead Estate.

“We do not have any enforcement powers on the site, and there is no scope for us to acquire it.”

Motoring experts LeaseCar.com has offered advice to motorists on the common pitfalls of privately owned car parks and how they can fight enforcement action.

Its advice includes:

  • Obtain photographic evidence – take photographs on the day from multiple angles, including any broken signs or damaged payment machines

  • Get witness statements – if you are with another passenger, get them to provide you with a written statement of what happened. This can also apply for a doctor who treated a car park patron during a medical emergency

  • Keep track of dates – if the private company does not send you a fine left on the vehicle within 28 days, the penalty can be excused

  • Challenge the fine quickly – if you challenge within the first 14 days of receiving the charge, you may be entitled to only pay half the fine. Paying straight away could be seen by the operator as an admission of guilt

  • Check the grace period – if you are issued with a fine despite only being over your allotted time, you may not have to pay up. Parking officers should give people a grace period to return to their car, generally between five to ten minutes

  • Lodge an independent appeal – if your initial challenge is rejected, you should appeal to the Independent Appeals Service

A spokesman said: “Drivers should not be scared to appeal private car park tickets as many are not enforceable.

“If you think there is a reasonable reason which makes a ticket unfair, it is worth your time to gather evidence and make a dispute against it.

“Motorists should not be put off from appealing a ticket over fears they could miss out on a reduced fine, because there is a high chance of winning.

“If in doubt, do your own research to find out if you are being unfairly fined and ways to dispute it.”