Driver angered over fine for parking in bus bay

Jacob Marshall, a driver at Marshalls Coaches of Sutton-on-Trent, has had a fine overturned for parking a minibus in a bay he says he has used many times before.

Jacob received a fine for using the bay in Mount Street, Nottingham, on 16 March.

The Visit Nottinghamshire website describes the Mount Street bay as a ‘convenient coach pick up and drop off’. Despite the website saying waiting and parking is strictly permitted on the bays, Jacob said the space allows drivers to walk into the city centre for refreshments or to use the toilet.

The 28-year-old driver at the Nottingham operator said: “I’ve parked there for years and I’ve never had a problem. I’ve often parked there because it allows you to park and go to a cafe to keep warm and maybe get some food. The bigger issue is, if they do stop us using that, then there is nowhere to park in the city. Otherwise you have got to go out of town and when you have a five-hour wait, it’s not particularly great when you don’t have anywhere to go, especially in winter.”

Jacob has since had the fine overturned, with Nottingham City Council claiming a sign noting the restrictions in the vicinity of the bay had been turned around, which it admits could have caused some confusion.

He believes there is a lack of coach parking in Nottingham, which he claims could put visitors off visiting the city. He contrasts the situation with nearby Leicester: “It’s absolutely brilliant in Leicester. They have coach bays there and you can reserve them, so you know you’re going to get somewhere to park when you get there.”