A GRANDFATHER says he can now move on after having his fines imposed by a firm that ran a controversial car park paid back.

Bradford Council told Smart Parking to shut down Oastler Road car park in Saltaire in October last year after the local authority discovered the land was declared a public highway, and therefore its use as a paid-for car park was unlawful.

Joseph Cullen, 82, of Hilton Drive, Shipley, has received his cash back, more than six months after he was fined.

He received seven letters for three parking fines, of £100 each, for using the car park. Letters for the first two incidents, on June 22 and 23, stated he had parked at the Toscana Retail Park in Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland, without getting a ticket. But on those dates he had actually parked at the Oastler Road car park.

He received cancellation letters for both of those fines and both were re-issued, again on separate letters, with Saltaire correctly stated.

He then received a further letter for a third incident, dated July 7, at the Saltaire site. He had paid Smart Parking three fines, for a reduced cost of £180.

Mr Cullen contacted Shipley MP Philip Davies about his case, who took it up with Smart Parking and had the fines rescinded.

Mr Cullen said: “I’m very pleased to get my money back. It was unnecessary hassle for me.

“I went to the car park for so many years and did not have any trouble whatsoever before. It has put me off, I just can’t go now. It’s good that I can move on.”

Smart Parking was approached for comment by the Telegraph & Argus but no response was received.

Mr Davies said everyone who has been fined during Smart Parking’s time in charge of the site should get their money back and urged his affected constituents to initially get in touch with him.

He said: “I can’t guarantee success for everybody who has been fined who is looking for a refund, but if they contact me and send me all of their details I will try my best for them.

“Mr Cullen has been paid back his money, he had three fines in total.

“I am grateful to Smart Parking for re-paying the fine. They have been very responsive to my requests for taking up cases for my constituents.”

Councillors say hundreds of drivers have been fined up to £100 by the Birmingham-based firm, after not realising Smart Parking required them to log their car’s registration for the free 20-minute stay.

The Council had run the car park under lease from 2004, offering 20 minutes’ free parking, but earlier this year the lease was taken over by Smart Parking.

The company’s equipment and signs were fully removed from the site on November 27, leaving shoppers free to park there without paying ever since.

Bradford Council previously called on Smart Parking to refund its fines to drivers.

Anyone who has been fined by Smart Parking, and is from the Shipley constituency, is urged to email philip.davies.mp@parliament.uk.