Refunds open over wrongly issued parking fines

Refunds have opened for thousands of drivers who were wrongly given parking fines in Surrey after a council admitted it did not have the legal powers to issue them.

Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) said more than 9,000 people were affected, with more than £300,000 paid in fines at 17 of its car parks in Esher, Cobham, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge.

The authority discovered the error while updating its parking terms and conditions and has now launched a scheme allowing drivers to claim their money back.

It said anyone who could provide proof of payment and vehicle details should be able to reclaim their money, with refunds expected within two weeks.

Dawn Crewe, EBC's strategic director, said the authority was "very sorry" and moved quickly to put things right once the issue was identified.

The fines were issued at car parks during early morning and evening hours from January 2020, and at multiple sites on Sundays from April 2022, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council said the problem arose from a procedural error, meaning enforcement officers did not have the legal authority to issue tickets because a full consultation had not been carried out.

Elmbridge said the refunds would be paid from its reserves and would not affect day-to-day services or its annual budget.

Applications opened at 09:00 BST and can be made online or by phone, with a deadline for claims set for March 2037.

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