Basingstoke KFC car park ANPR cameras 'not working properly'

Concerns were previously raised after automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed at the KFC in Basingstoke Leisure Park without the council’s prior knowledge.

Now, Cllr Sean Dillow, who also works as a delivery driver, says drivers are being wrongly issued fines, with some notices suggesting vehicles stayed overnight when they had only been parked for a matter of minutes.

He said: “A couple of days ago, I overheard one driver who said he had two charge notices because the cameras were not working right. Today, another delivery driver got one as well.

ANPR parking cameras installed at KFC in the Leisure Park (Image: Newsquest/Cllr Sean Dillow)

“It seems the cameras are clocking people going in, but not out. So it thinks the delivery driver stayed overnight – it’s ridiculous. Obviously, something is not right with the setup.

“I don’t know if the council has had a chat with KFC about it. It’s a £100 charging notice, and one poor driver had two. I’m sure there will be more.”

The councillor said the issue is already affecting behaviour, with some drivers choosing to avoid the site altogether.

He added: “It’s upsetting a lot of people, and many are not parking there now. It just seems weird having cameras there in the first place.

ANPR parking cameras at KFC in the Leisure Park (Image: Cllr Sean Dillow)

“Delivery drivers like me are affected. When you’re being paid £5 to £6 to pick up something, you don’t expect to be hit with a £100 fine for the privilege.”

Cllr Dillow also raised concerns about the appeals process and lack of clarity for those issued with parking charge notices.

He said: “There is no transparency and it is very hard – you have to appeal to almost prove your innocence because you are assumed guilty.

“I was a little bit shocked when the cameras went up in the first place, and the council weren’t even aware. It’s causing a lot of problems with delivery drivers.”

Cllr Dillow went as far as to call for the cameras to be removed altogether.

KFC car park (Image: Sean Dillow)

He said: "I think they should be taken down, they are helping no one. Customers may get a nasty surprise in their letter box."

It comes after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council confirmed it had not been informed of the installation of ANPR cameras at the site, despite being the landlord of the Leisure Park.

KFC previously said the measures were introduced to ensure parking spaces are available for customers, and that visitors can park for up to 90 minutes without needing to register their vehicle.

A KFC spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry to the delivery drivers who were incorrectly issued parking charges while collecting orders from our Basingstoke Leisure Park restaurant.

"Our car park has some restrictions in place to help keep spaces available for customers, but unfortunately a small number of charges were issued in error.

"As soon as we became aware of this, we worked with the car park operator to make sure all wrongly issued charges were cancelled.”

Civil Enforcement, the company responsible for the ANPR cameras, has been approached for comment