AS usual I popped my 60p in the machine for an hour's parking while I shopped at Waitrose in Okehampton.
I noticed the snazzy new machines, but also noticed as my ticket was issued that there was only half an hour's parking on it. My first reaction was the machine had made an error.
There was no sign up, as in the past, to warn of new parking charges. On closer inspection, however, I realised that there were indeed new parking charges an increase of 33 1/3% no wonder they were keeping quiet about that.
My 60p had, therefore, bought me nothing more than an expensive half hour being 20p short of the hour I intended.
This resulted in my doing something akin to a trolley dash around Waitrose.
I did not purchase half the items I intended to, nor did I visit any other shops then as planned.
As I reached the check-out, I panted my annoyance to the unfortunate lady on the till, who rang for the supervisor.
I reiterated the above information, whilst throwing my shopping into bags at the same time, I was now down to three minutes before my ticket ran out.
The supervisor advised me it was the council's responsibility and incidentally it was costing Waitrose another £500 a week in parking ticket cashbacks. Also it had been in the previous week's Times, well I hadn't noticed it.
With the exorbitant council taxes we have to pay, I make it a personal policy NEVER to pay for a car parking space in Okehampton. Under the circumstances Waitrose did give me my 60p back.
I then went to the council offices to get their e-mail address so I could send them a copy of this.
I could well do without this hassle. Launceston is not much further for me to go for my 'big shop' and what I save on Tesco prices, petrol, no messing with parking tickets or putting £1 coins in trolleys I can cover the cost of the extra mileage and a very pleasant journey it is too.
This is definitely going to be my preferred option in the future.
L Hughes
Wood Park,
Bratton Clovelly