Man frustrated after £60 parking fine collecting Christmas tree

Dr Martin Lee, from West Dean, was visiting Amesbury on December 3, 2025, to collect a Christmas tree.

He had paid for the tree in advance from a vendor that he had bought from before, in the Old Bus Station Car Park.

Martin said: "The five minutes it took me to drop the seats and load the tree into my van whilst collecting it incurred a £60 charge.

"I was not parked in a bay, and the engine was running, i.e. the vehicle was not parked."

Martin received his penalty letter on December 10, and it stated that he was in the car park for 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

He decided to appeal the decision and said: "I was not parked in the car park during the designated period. I had pre-paid for a Christmas Tree from a vendor that was occupying the north segment of the car park.

"One assumes that if the owners of the Old Bus Station Car Park permit the vendor to undertake this business (the retail of large Christmas trees), then penalising the normal business of trade with the vendor should be considered unreasonable.

"The Christmas tree is actually visible in the photograph of me leaving the car park on the fine letter."

The company that sent the parking charge letter was Napier Parking, which is a national company that manages car parks.

Martin Lee with his parking fine and Christmas tree (Image: Martin Lee)

The company eventually declined Martin's appeal, and a spokesperson for Napier Parking said: "Our records show that the Parking Charge was correctly issued as the vehicle was parked in breach of the clearly displayed Terms and Conditions of Parking.

"I am unsure why the driver felt he was able to obtain our parking services for free. In the same way that he no doubt paid for his Christmas Tree, he was required to pay for the car park.

"Making off without paying is not acceptable.

"I would add that we allow a 5-minute consideration period, this is as per the Sector Single Code of Practice. This is not a free period of parking; it is only to decide whether to stay or leave. In this case, the driver went about his business of obtaining a Christmas Tree. Payment for the car park was required.

Parking sign (Image: Napier Parking)

"I would remind drivers that when parking in a car park, they should take the time to read the signs. The fact that a driver may leave the engine running or leave a passenger in the vehicle does NOT exempt them from the Terms and Conditions.

"We are therefore unable to cancel the charge as it was issued correctly."

Following his appeal, Martin wanted to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.

He said: "This experience may be of value to those considering making such purchases in the future, and perhaps others may dutifully promulgate this costly experience.

"Indeed, it would be useful to know how many others have also received this ‘wonderful surprise’ during the festive season."