A warning to anyone parking at Alresford Station Car Park; only visitors to the Watercress Line are able to park for over three hours and only then if they have a valid 'voucher' which is only obtainable from the railway booking office. The 'voucher' is only available if the railway is operating that day. Indeed, with that 'voucher' you may park there for up to 24 hours. The car park is branded as 'Short Stay' (under three hours) for everyone except Watercress Line users. Indeed from August to January, inclusive, the line is only open 50 per cent of the time yet local people cannot take advantage of the vacant spaces.

As a local person visiting the area to explore the countryside I now have to ensure that my activity (including coffee and cake in an Alresford cafe) is all completed in under three hours. This is often unachievable, as making a circular walk to explore the area is often not possible in under three hours - result, go somewhere else. Any activities in Alresford are now limited to three hours or get a fine, and the Meter Attendants are very hot on this - don't be mistaken.

I cannot see why local people and visitors to the town, who are not using the Watercress Line, are being penalised. Indeed from visiting the car park it is common to see cars, with a car park ticket for over three hours, sadly without a 'voucher', but with a Penalty Notice attached to their screens even though they may have been parked seemingly legally for under four hours and potentially up to 24 hours.

This does not make sense. It is not simple to follow. It is designed to penalise drivers and land them with a minimum £25 and potentially £50 fine when they felt they were doing everything correctly.

This system must be changed as it has brought the local authority into disrepute. At the very least, the parking meters must be reprogrammed to clearly display to drivers what the situation is, a sign next to the meter is not enough to warn drivers of the pit of anguish they are unknowingly about to fall into.

 

Graham Ryder,

Priors Dean Road,

Harestock,

Winchester,