Some readers may remember that I wrote recently about a fine I had incurred while parking for the hovercraft on my way to a medical appointment at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth (CP online, 09-10-22). 

I had appealed against the fine, but did not hold out much hope of success.

Well, how wrong I was, and I am quite prepared to eat my words and report that my fine has indeed been cancelled. 

I received a very polite letter from the Isle of Wight Council, firstly lecturing me on the correct procedure for claiming back charges in such circumstances, but then cancelling the fine.

I have written back, thanking them, while promising to follow the rules in future. 

However, I did point out that I had been fined exactly five months after the announcement on the council website of the new procedure, but that the display board at the site still didn’t mention it. 

I urged the council to remedy this as soon as possible, as the cost would be minimal. 

I also urged them to introduce a system whereby charges are set on leaving the car park, as the lengths of medical appointments are notoriously hard to predict, and as is the system at St. Mary’s Hospital. 

However, this would entail installing a camera-based monitor and is unlikely to go ahead.

But credit where it’s due, and I take my hat off to the council for doing the decent thing.

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