Published: Thursday, 13th May, 2010 10:11am

'ILLEGAL CHARGES' CLAIM

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A COMPANY has been accused of being corrupt after claims it was collecting car park cash illegally for FIVE months.

Barrhead Shopping Centre LLP are currently under investigation by Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board after users of the Main Street parking facility claimed they could find NO record of the organisation ever applying to pay business rates for the site.

Now angry drivers say they will demand their money back if the firm is found to be in breach of the law.

The car park lies just behind the Flying Horse pub and was well used by locals until a Pay and Display system was introduced in November last year.

Customers were shelling out up to £8 per day to leave their cars in the lot until bags were placed over the meters last week and wardens spread the word that parking was free once more.

Although Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board was unable to confirm whether their ongoing investigation into the facility has contributed to the removal of these charges, motorists who were slapped with fines for refusing to pay the charges are demanding answers from site proprietors.

One disgruntled businessman who did not wish to be named said: "We're really, really pleased and just want to let people know that it's free parking again.

"I've spoken to several other traders in the street over the past few days and they are all a lot more optimistic about the future.

"But if it transpires that locals and other shoppers were paying illegal charges then they're definitely going to want their money back.

"It's a total disgrace.

"This facility has been running for six months and like any business they should have been paying rates.

"If it turns out they haven't been paying them and they should have been then I would expect the board to be chasing them for historical rates over the period of time that they have been charging customers money to park there.

"It's not fair that other businesses who do declare themselves to the board pay their rates and this one might get away with it.

"It's totally corrupt and it could take a year for the businesses in this street to build themselves back up from this 'illegal' operation."

Councillor Douglas Yates has backed the eradication of the charges.

He said: "I have campaigned to either get rid of the parking meters altogether, or to vary the charges downwards since day one.

"They were suddenly introduced and have contributed to significant parking problems in the Heys Street, Arthurlie Street and Lowndes Street.

"Traders will be pleased to see the back of the parking meters as their takings have been affected adversely since the metres were installed.

"I'm just sorry that it has taken so long for the owners of the shopping centre to see that installing parking meters in their car park was bad for business.

"I can understand people's reasoning but I just don't understand how it's going to be possible for them to get their money back.

"It's been a total disaster from start to finish."

Site agents BTW Shields which represents Barrhead Shopping Centre LLP was unavailable for comment when approached by the News.