Abertillery parkers pressured with fines despite no evidence

South Wales Argus

07-05-2025

It recently came to light that dozens of people have received £100 penalty notices for parking in one of four bays besides Iceland in Abertillery.
It is widely understood that the bays in question are public, a fact confirmed by Blaenau Gwent Council, leading to questions over the legitimacy of the fines.
The parking bays in question are believed to belong to Blaenau Gwent Council (Image: Supplied)
Those to be fined have since spoken out about the methods implemented by the parking company and how requests for clear photographic proof of wrongdoing have been denied.
In what's been likened to 'bully tactics', those fined report being threatened with extra charges and even bailiff action if they fail to pay.
Amanda Davies is one of many to report having paid a reduced £60 fine under pressure.
'I received the notice just before going away and paid it in a moment of panic,' she explained.
Whilst unsure of what she had done wrong, Ms Davies said, 'I felt powerless and confused.'.
'The only evidence provided was of my car driving down the side of Iceland and exiting. That does not clearly demonstrate a parking violation. But I still wasn't sure who had the authority to issue the fine,' she added.
There is particular concern over the impact on vulnerable individuals who receive the fines, with many reporting experiencing significant distress and confusion.
Despite the ongoing exposure of the issue, it remains unclear how many individuals have been fined and how many have paid due to feelings of pressure and panic.
Highlighting the impact on vulnerable individuals, another explained, 'I paid £60 straight away because they said it would go up to £100 and I suffer with depression and anxiety and didn't want it making me feel worse'.
Neil Milkins, who first raised the issue publicly, continues to be contacted by individuals affected and says the scale of the problem is significant.
'I have been made aware, mainly from Facebook, that dozens of people have since March 2024 been sent £100 penalty notices' he said.
Adding, 'Some have had more than one notice. Many have been pressured into paying with the bait of paying £60 if paid within 14 days. If not paid within 28 days, a £70 extra charge will be added, with further costs if bailiffs are involved.'
Mr Milkins successfully contested the two £100 fines he received, with both being dropped.
Nevertheless, he remains concerned for all those with fines outstanding and those who have felt pressured into paying despite a lack of evidence.
'But dozens of motorists are still being harassed to pay for parking legally,' he explained.
At the time of publication, the parking company has yet to respond to the concerns regarding the legitimacy of the fines or their methods for extracting payment.