ANGRY councillors have called for a company behind controversial changes at a Saltaire car park to meet with traders who have lost out, as Bradford Council steps up its action against the firm.

The British Parking Association (BPA), a trade organisation for UK parking companies, has also now confirmed it has launched an investigation into drivers being fined at Oastler Road car park.

The Council had run the car park under lease from 2004, offering 20 minutes free parking. Earlier this year the lease was taken over by Birmingham-based firm Smart Parking.

But since then, many angry drivers have been given£100 fines, not realising Smart Parking now required them to log their car’s registration to get the free 20-minute stay.

The Council has contacted site owners Saltaire Investments, based in Prestwich, Manchester, and served a notice on them to remove the car parking equipment from the site.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, the Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “We have started negotiations with the company, Saltaire Investments, and we are helping them to clarify the highway status of the land.

“As the car park is still operating illegally, we have also served a notice on the company to remove the car parking equipment from the site.

“We have already contacted people who were fined by the Council when we operated the car park with a view to refunding the money.

“We would again call on Smart Parking to refund all the fines it has collected and to immediately cease issuing any new fines until this matter is resolved.”

Meanwhile, Shipley’s Green Party councillors Kevin Warnes, Martin Love and Hawarun Hussain wrote to the BPA to investigate the situation and consider suspending Smart Parking’s membership of its association. The councillors have also urged Smart Parking and Saltaire Investments to suspend all parking charges at the site.

They want anyone who has been fined by Smart Parking to be refunded and to meet with businesses on Gordon Terrace, which surrounds the car park, to discuss any possible compensation for decrease in earnings due to the car park.

Cllr Warnes said: “It’s a nightmare, we are still getting people getting in touch with us.

“We are quite happy for the car park to be run, as long as the charging framework is fair.

“They need to fundamentally review their business. This has got to be sorted out once and for all.”

A BPA spokesman said: “The BPA has opened an investigation and is therefore unable to comment until it is completed. Due to the complexity of the situation we believe it may take some time.”

By taking Smart Parking to task last month, the Council has also had to hold its hands up to running the car park illegally itself for more than a decade, and now faces a major refund programme of its own.

No representatives from either Smart Parking or Saltaire Investments responded when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus.