Freedom Leisure defends parking fines at Ringwood leisure centre after complaint

THE operator of a New Forest public leisure centre has defended fining drivers after bringing in an enforcement company to control parking.

The system has been introduced at the facility in Ringwood which is managed by Freedom Leisure on behalf of New Forest District Council, which owns the site.

Freedom Leisure told the A&T it had employed the services of Parkingeye due to overcrowding and misuse, and 22 signs had been put up in the car park and reception to warn drivers.

The agreement with Parkingeye came into effect on 27th April and grants all leisure centre users three hours’ free parking.

They are required to enter their registration details into one of two touch-screen monitors in reception.

There is also a 15-minute grace period for those who want to pick up and drop off.

But Fordingbridge resident Gillian Bathe claimed there was inadequate signage having been “caught out” when visiting for her grandson’s swimming lesson.

Ms Bathe told the A&T: “There is not enough warning for those of us who have always parked there for free for our swimming.

“Even within the leisure centre there is not enough signage to remind us to put in our registration number at the desk.”

She added she then found the £60 fine “very difficult” to appeal on the Parkingeye website despite the leisure centre confirming she had been using the centre.

She added: “Too many others have been stung in the ridiculous, greedy ruse. Shame on everyone for not making the new rules much clearer both at the car park and inside the leisure centre.”

Although her fine was eventually cancelled, Ms Bathe said she wanted to draw attention to the “victimisation of innocent swimmers”.

Freedom Leisure area manager Lee Thomas told the A&T: “In consultation with both New Forest District Council and Ringwood School we feel this is the right solution to resolve the parking problems experienced by our loyal customers.

“With every change there is always a period of bedding in and we are confident that customers will see the benefits of being able to park when using the centre with immediate effect.”

He said information about the changes was published in the centre, across social media channels and sent by email.

Parkingeye does not operate at the other New Forest public leisure centres at Lymington, New Milton, Applemore and Totton.