A PENSIONER who was fined for spending too long in a DIY store car park has won an appeal.

Mavis Hart, 75, and her husband, Alf, 78, of Amberley Road, Leyton, were ordered to pay a £75 parking fine after they spent three-hours buying garden equipment in the Homebase store in Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow last month.

The car park has a time limit to try to deter non-customers from using the car park, but the couple said they didn't notice the sign and were annoyed that as genuine customers they were being penalised.

But after sending an angry letter to store bosses, Mrs Hart received a full refund this week after proving they had shopped at the store.

She said: “I was very pleased because it gives other people a bit of hope. I cannot understand why they don't put a ticket machine in there instead, they are making a fortune out of it.

“It takes a long time to do the shopping and then queuing at the till. If they don't want people to take their time, what do they want a store for. I won't be taking the risk again.”

She added: “All my neighbours cheered when they found out. This time the little man has won.”

Sarah Branley also complained to the store after receiving a £95 penalty for spending too long in the car park. She had spent nearly £100 in the branch and said she was not aware of the parking restrictions.

Allan Gunpot, 42, appealed after he and his family exceeded the one-hour time limit in the car park at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton by nine minutes.

The father-of-three, of of Turner Road, in Walthamstow, said he has written to the company and is awaiting a response.

A Homebase spokeswoman said previously that the policy is to ensure genuine customers have the convenience of parking and that the limit should allow ample time.

She said that genuine shoppers who exceed the time limit should speak to the store's staff to ensure they are not penalised.

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