Bury St Edmunds woman calls for changes to car park signage

Megan Reynard, a 35-year-old teacher, purchased a ticket for her car in the Arc-Cattlemarket car park in May and, when this ticket ran out, she bought a second one using the RingGo app.

Ms Reynard said the "deluge of information" on the car park sign meant, due to her ADHD, she had not noted the 'no return within two hours' policy, and it was on this basis that she was given a fine, which she went on to appeal.

Ms Reynard said the signage contained a 'deluge of information' (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The appeal was rejected and Ms Reynard said she was told it was her responsibility as a motorist to read the information properly. She paid the fine, as she said it was causing her stress and anxiety. 

"The appeal letter was dismissive of my lived experience as a person living with a registered disability," she said. 

"After painful deliberation, I have decided to pay the fine for the sake of my own mental health, but that I want to make sure that my voice is heard.

"The feeling is 'what is hidden from me' - that is how I felt about this. It felt like I had been punished for something I couldn't see." 

ADHD, or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that can, amongst other things, cause people to struggle to concentrate, have a short attention span and forget or lose things often.  

Ms Reynard said she had been given fines in the past after forgetting to buy a ticket, and she had happily paid these, but in this case she put measures in place including setting an alarm to buy the second ticket, thinking it would keep her covered. 

She is now calling for signs to be added to the car park containing only the key information on what will equate to a fine, as well as reminders throughout the car park, for the benefit of other neurodivergent drivers.

The sign in Arc-Cattlemarket car park (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"I am not doing this because I am having a tantrum at the ticket - I have paid the ticket and I don't want any money back," she said.

"My issue is I don't think the sign is fair." 

Ms Reynard said in her role as a teacher she is keen to help young people who are neurodivergent to learn ways to cope in society, but she also hopes society can become more accessible and inclusive in the long term.

"I had a little cry when I went through the process of this because I felt a bit sorry for little me," she said.

"Growing up it always felt like there was a sort of rule that everyone else understood and I didn't and that is what this felt like too.

"There may be several people who read this and think actually yes, those car park signs are difficult to read or people with ADHD or autism or dyslexia who will think 'I am really glad somebody has said this isn't right.'"

Cllr David Taylor, West Suffolk Council Cabinet member for Operations said: "All our car parks are reviewed by the Disabled Parking Association (DPA) including signs, terms and conditions and payment machine instructions and all have passed inspection and have been awarded the DPA Award.

"We are of course committed to equality and follow all DPA recommendations. We will continue to adhere also to British Parking Association guidelines in the management of our car parks including complying with the prestigious Safer Parking Awards in all West Suffolk Council sites.

"While we cannot comment on individual cases, we can confirm that the legislative appeals processes were followed and indeed had not been exhausted, including the ability to have the fine ultimately reviewed by an independent tribunal."