We received this email:
I am writing to you because of the car park penalty notice for we have just received from RCP. On 12th September we visited Bigbury on Sea, which was lovely. On arrival we tried to pay, but the machine was not working. Next we tried to open the QR code but could not, due to poor signal. We were only there for 18 minutes 21 seconds and most of that time was spent trying to pay for the parking!! The contravention on the notice was stated as non-payment, but I believe RCP are in contravention of not having a reliable, working machine to enable law-abiding tourists to pay! I think this would not encourage people into the area again and I have posted a Tripadvisor review online stating the problems we had. I was not surprised to see many reviews stating the same problem. We intend to oppose the penalty charge as it was not for want of trying to pay and the complaints date months back and yet nothing has been done by RCP to address the problem. We all know why! They are getting all these penalties from people who were unable to pay because of their faulty equipment and making a lot of money that they would not otherwise reap had their machine and QR code worked!! Absolutely disgusted that people can be ripped off by this company; it leaves a bitter taste after such a lovely trip to Devon. I hope you can help in getting rid of this immoral company and introducing a reliable, fair parking regime for locals and tourists. Best regards Aziz and Jacqueline Abouseda Berkshire
Stop RCP Parking from Overcharging Visitors at Bigbury on Sea
I am a local resident of South Devon, and my livelihood depends on the thriving tourism in our area. My small café, along with many other local businesses, relies heavily on the influx of visitors who come to enjoy our beautiful beaches at Bigbury-on-Sea. However, recent actions by RCP Parking Ltd, a company based in Norwich, threaten to disrupt this delicate balance.
RCP Parking from Norwich have taken over this car park recently and increased the parking charges to £14 per day and taken away the free parking after 6pm. There is also nothing to distinguish between charges for high season or low season.
This exorbitant fee is not only a burden for families already struggling with the cost of living crisis but also discourages tourists from visiting our area. The beach should be an affordable destination for families seeking a day out, not an opportunity for companies like RCP Parking to exploit visitors.
The repercussions of these high parking fees extend beyond just disappointed tourists – they impact our local economy as well. Tourism is vital for many small businesses in South Devon; any decrease in visitor numbers can have devastating effects on their survival.
This isn’t just about unfair parking fees; it’s about preserving the economic health and community spirit of South Devon. We must stand against this greed and extortion by RCP Parking company.
We urge you to sign this petition demanding that RCP Parking reduce their daily charges at Bigbury on Sea carpark and ensure that our beaches remain accessible for all families regardless of income level while supporting local businesses’ survival.
Please sign this petition on Change.org: https://chng.it/DtmwvgGNkW
Alison Bredin
Important additional information from South Hams District Council:
Bigbury car park and toilets changing operators
Bigbury on Sea car park, leased by our Council since 1997, will soon change hands over to a new operator, RCP Parking Ltd.
Following the end of our lease, we have agreed we will give up both the car park and the toilet leases. To renew both leases would mean we would be operating at a sizable loss which would not be in the best interests for public funds.
The landowner has entered into an agreement with operator, RCP Parking Ltd, who will take on the full management of both the car park and toilets. This means visitors to Bigbury on Sea will see no interruption to the service with the current parking and public toilets remaining open and available for public use.
We will no longer operate the car park and public toilets from Monday 25 March 2024.
Cllr Victor Abbott, our Executive Member for Community Services and Leisure, said: “We have voluntarily surrendered the lease for these two assets which we have run for many years. We have to run our services sensibly, in a way which is cost effective. We have a duty to our residents to do that since we use public funds for these services and that is why we have reached this decision.
“Decisions aren’t always easy to come to, but when there is a rent increase which means we would be running at a significant loss, then it’s the right thing to do, to walk away and spend money where it’s more urgently needed.
“RCP Parking will be taking over the operation of the car park from next Monday, 25 March. They are an experienced, family run business and have been operating car parks across the UK since 1994.”
Editor’s note: we received this additional comment:
“There’s another rogue private car park at Thurlestone. Bigbury Estate sold it a few months ago and their signage seems to be designed to maximise fines.
What do you do to hold outfits like that to account?”
Let us know what you think or tell us of your experience: editor@westcountryvoices.co.uk