A PENSIONER who paid for a ticket to park his car was shocked to return to a fine.
Dylan Williams, 69, paid £1 for a long stay ticket at New Street car park in Mold, which covered him for nine hours.
But when he returned to his car four hours after first parking he was greeted by a fine for £10.
Only some of the spaces in the Flintshire Council run car park are designated as long stay spaces and Mr Williams, from Dolgellau, had parked in a short stay space.
“If I’d seen the signs I would have parked somewhere else.”
There are notices in the car park telling people which bays are long stay but Mr Williams says they need to be clearer, especially since the ticket printed told him he would be covered for nine hours.
“I genuinely didn’t see the signs,” he said. “It’s crazy, just because I’d gone right instead of left to park they’ve fined me.
“I did a bit of shopping and took my time because I thought I had ages. I feel it’s very mean of Flintshire Council, I’m a law-abiding citizen.
“I’m not going to come to Mold again.”
Neal Cockerton, head of assets and transportation at Flintshire Council said: "New Street Car Park is separated into short and long stay areas and this arrangement is clearly signed at the entrance to the car park.
"The short stay parking area is intended for use by visitors to the town and shoppers ensuring that people requiring all-day parking do not park in the area to the detriment of trade for local businesses.
“The maximum stay in the short stay area is up to three hours.
“All short stay areas have a return prohibited of 30 minutes and this is clearly signed on the instruction panels at each Pay and Display ticket machine.
"Those wishing to stay in New Street Car Park for longer than three hours are required to use the long stay area of the car park.
“The parking information signs sited around the car park show the charges applicable and the conditions related to them and are designed to enable visitors to read the information quickly and with ease.”