Trading Standards has stepped in over controversial parking fines, which have been labelled misleading and confusing.
Hundreds of people signed a petition - launched in February by Councillor Jeremy Moulton - urging a review of the ‘unfair’ parking measures at West Quay Retail Park in Southampton.
Britannia Parking installed automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at West Quay Retail Park in September 2025 and changed parking restrictions to the shock of many drivers in the city.
With 444 signatures and lobbying from Cllr Moulton, Southampton Council has confirmed the signage will be reviewed by West Quay Parking Services.
In response to the review, Cllr Moulton said: “I am really pleased Trading Standards have taken it seriously. They have agreed that the signage is unclear and the parking tariff arrangement is very unhelpful.”
Hundreds of pounds’ worth of fines have been issued to people parking at the site, with several feeling the signage ‘conned’ them out of £100.
A Ray Sivyour said he is appealing a £100 parking charge after being fined despite paying for what he believed was the maximum stay.
He said he parked at West Quay Retail Park on March 3, paying £3 for three hours from 5.54pm to 8.52pm, but later received a penalty notice claiming he had not paid enough.
He argues he actually overpaid, as the first hour after 8pm is free, and described the system as “very confusing” and “a bit of a con.”
He said: “It is a very confusing and frustrating system, and I don’t understand how they can justify sending me a fine.”
Neil Allen said he received two £100 fines after parking at West Quay Retail Park on consecutive nights and will now avoid the car park entirely.
He described the system as confusing and practically impossible to use, particularly after 8pm, and said the “pay on arrival” instructions were misleading.
Neil added that the experience has put him off visiting the area, and he hopes the council resolves the issues so others aren’t caught out in the same way.
Clive Loosmore took his 12-year-old grandson to his first football match at St Mary’s Stadium in October and was fined £60 because the car park machine would only allow payment until 8pm.
He said: “I tried to pay until 11pm, but the system wouldn’t let me. The signage says you must pay on arrival how are you expected to do that when your stay straddles 8pm? It’s completely illogical.”
Clive has refused to pay while Trading Standards investigates.
Councillor Moulton believes that, because the council has decided to review the signage after deeming it confusing, people fined should be able to be refunded.
He added: “I want this resolved and to see fairness. I also want people not to be put off from coming to Southampton, whether to shop, to eat out, or visit the theatre, cinema, or come to the football.”
Brittania Parking has previously told the Echo the signage "exceeds the requirements" of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operators Code of Conduct and confirmed that all appeals are handled "on a case-by-case basis."
"Customers who overstay or fail to enter their registration number to extend their stay are at risk of a parking charge. Any driver who is issued with a parking charge has the ability to submit an appeal, highlighting any extenuating circumstances for consideration."
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