Council admits mistake after ‘complete chaos leaves drivers paying for parking

Bedford: So, it turns out Bedford Borough Council really messed up. They admitted that a mix-up led to drivers being charged for parking when they shouldn’t have been. Can you believe it?

Drivers were pretty shocked to find a £2 fee added to their Sunday parking charges. This all kicked off at the start of the year, and people were understandably upset.

After a lot of complaints, the council quickly backtracked and apologized. Councillor Jim Weir explained that there was a bit of confusion in their spreadsheet with nearly a thousand entries. Yikes!

He said, “The numbers showed a charge, but we had clearly stated there wouldn’t be one.” It’s a classic case of numbers not matching up with what was supposed to happen.

When asked how they missed it, Cllr Weir said it was just a huge spreadsheet. He added that once the first complaint came in, they realized something was off.

He reassured everyone that it wasn’t a conspiracy or anything shady—just a simple mistake. He took responsibility since it was under his watch.

Earlier this week, Mayor Tom Wootton also stepped in to clarify things on Facebook. He apologized and promised to fix the issue, including issuing refunds for those affected.

He emphasized that mistakes happen, and it’s important to own up to them. He also confirmed that Sunday parking would stay free at council-owned car parks.

However, the Liberal Democrats pointed out that while the council is refunding fines, what about those who paid the £2 unnecessarily? They called the whole situation “complete chaos.”

A spokesperson for the council acknowledged the confusion and said they’re working to resolve any fines issued incorrectly. They urged anyone who got a fine to reach out for help.

For those who paid the £2 on that Sunday, they need to contact parking services with proof before the end of January 2025 to get their money back. After that, no refunds will be given.