When the difference between three and nine is 80 (pounds) – another instalment of the Cradle Bridge car park saga.
I was surprised to get home from holiday to have a fine for £80 for a parking violation. Now, people like me keep their car park tickets (I know, I need to get out more), so I duly sent off my appeal with a copy of the (free parking) ticket. 
Alas, there was one digit wrong (the 3 in fact belongs to my wife’s car), but the time on the ticket corresponded to the time of the ‘offence’.
After a prompt from me, I received a reply three weeks later (does this mean they have massive numbers of appeals?), turning me down – unlike a lucky gentleman from Holt as reported in the WT.
Despite the name Smart Parking of the company concerned, the fact is that it isn’t. The system used is a crude one relying on a simple matching algorithm. I understand the need to regulate parking but this isn’t the way. 
Rob Summerson
Marsh Road
Trowbridge