Cheshire East Council is looking into complaints from drivers fined for parking on a closed car park - when the PayByPhone app allowed them to pay and they weren't aware of the closure.

The council says anyone who was fined for parking on Oak Street Car Park in Crewe, while it was closed on Monday (August 22), will have to appeal their fine as instructed on the ticket.

The local authority has been slated by Crewe & Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, who says parking attendants stood and watched people park and then fined them after they had left their cars.

Crewe & Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, said parking attendants stood and watched people park and then fined them after they had left their cars (Crewe Nub News).

Dr Mullan said: "Like many people, my staff using that car park use the app to pay. The car park should be disabled in the app for the duration of the closure.

"There were plain white A4 notices up which I would expect most people would not even see and even if you do use the pay and display machine, the notice wasn't even on it.

"During Covid these machines were taped up."

Oak Street Car Park was meant to be closed Monday (August 22), Tuesday (August 23) and Wednesday (August 24).

The white A4 notices in place during the Oak Street Car Park closure. The PayByPhone app was still charging people whop parked (Crewe Nub News).

The MP added: "What is even worse is parking attendants stood and watched people park, get out and head off and then fined them when it was clear they didn't know. That is totally unacceptable and I will be taking it up with Cheshire East.

"Anyone who got a ticket please get in touch as I will be challenging these."

Cheshire East has now responded (August 26), saying notices were displayed around the car park and warned it may have to be closed again.

The council did not explain why the car park wasn't disabled in the app and why closure notices were not posted on the parking machines.

Cheshire East has said A4 notices were displayed around the car park and warned it may have to be closed again (Ryan Parker).

A council spokesperson said: "Oak Street car park had to be temporarily closed.

"A number of notices were posted at various locations around this car park giving advanced warning to motorists that it would be closed temporarily on three dates – 22, 23 and 24 August.

"Notices were posted, including at entrance and exit points.

"The car park is open, again, but may have to be closed again so that the planned ground investigation work can be carried out. This had to be postponed at short notice on August 22."

Oak Street Car Park was meant to be closed Monday (August 22), Tuesday (August 23) and Wednesday (August 24) - a change in the plans meant this was not the case (Dr Kieran Mullan MP).

Dr Mullan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Cheshire East's statement shows 'the council doesn't seem to understand what has gone on here'.

"If you pay by app and drive on to the car park you would not know at all that it was closed," he said.

The council spokesperson added: "We are aware of concerns raised by some drivers who were already present and had paid. These will be looked into.

"Anyone wishing to appeal any penalties issued is advised to act in accordance with the instructions on the penalty notice.

"The council will deal with an appeal in accordance with published national guidelines.

Cheshire East Council says it is investigating the abuse of staff regarding the Oak Street Car Park fines (Cheshire East Council).

"We are also aware of staff being verbally abused.

"The council does not tolerate abuse of staff in council buildings or in public places and will take the necessary actions."

READ MORE: Crewe firefighters rescue injured horse trapped in barbed wire.

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