Parking charge row is defused (From Penarth Times)

Parking charge row is defused

LOCAL families furious about car parking charges at The Captain's Wife have won their battle - with a little help from the Penarth Times.

Landlords Sarah Steele, 27, and Lee Davies, 30, have decided to change the parking fees after a landslide of customer complaints and articles featured in the Times.

The pay-and-display parking scheme was installed by owners Whitbread a month ago, a week after Sarah and Lee moved in.

As a result, angry customers complained and threatened to take away business.

But Sarah and Lee argued that customers were not losing out - in fact they could get their money back.

The charges were £1 for two hours, £2 for three hours, £3 for four hours and £5 for a full day, with the penalty being £50 for not displaying a ticket.

Sunderland-born Sarah said: "We can refund the £1 when customers buy food or drinks." Despite the fact customers are not losing out, Sarah and Lee have decided to change the prices, with tickets costing £1 for four hours and £3 for a full day.

Sarah said: "We've gone with public demand. The £1 will of course still be refundable." They also commented on calls that the pay-and-display scheme would result in an accident as cars tried to avoid parking.

Sarah said: "There's no need for an accident, there's a roundabout."