Thousands due parking fine refunds after £300k error

Thousands of people across five towns in Surrey are due a refund after a procedural error led to £300,000 worth of parking tickets being incorrectly issued since 2020.

Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) issued an apology after 9,318 people were affected by the error which involved 17 of its car parks in Esher, Cobham, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge.

Dawn Crewe, strategic director at EBC, said the nature of the error meant the "legal activity of issuing the car parking fine was incorrect".

"As soon as we identified the error we learned from the mistake and put new procedures in place to ensure it can not happen again."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, EBC said the loss, which could rise to £308,000, was projected to come out of reserves.

A clear refund process is due to roll out in June, with claims to be accepted until the following March before the council is absorbed into the new East Surrey local authority.

The error became clear during the roll out of a new policy to introduce 30-minute free parking in the area, EBC said.

Crewe added: "The refund process will be kept as straightforward as possible, with refunds issued within two weeks of successful application."

Councillor John Cope, leader of Elmbridge Conservative opposition group, said the error was a "bitter pill for local businesses and residents to swallow" and must not happen again.

Councillors are scheduled to approve the refund scheme at a cabinet meeting on 19 May.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.