CONCERNS that new parking arrangements at Stanford-le-Hope rail station have been eased by an announcement from the car park operators that they do allow people to use it for free as a drop off point.

Over the weekend Thurock NubNews reported on the disappointment of a commuter whose partner used the car park as a safe dropping off point – only to find she had been charged more than £6 for a brief visit to the car park to use its turning circle. (See report via the red button below).

James Dowdall's partner Tammy had noticed a fellow driver complaining so decided to check the NCP's website and found a £6.60 charge had been levied against her car, which she paid to avoid a possible penalty charge.

That prompted Mr Dowdall to say: "Thurrock Council have got rid of the drop off point that used to be there but now there is nowhere to drop off safely without causing a traffic hazard without paying. It's absolutely ridiculous."

However, National Car Parks, which introduced a non cash payment and camera registration system at the car park last November, has now confirmed that Stanford-le-Hope station car park is designated as a place that can be entered and exited without paying – and that there is currently a 'period of grace' of 29 minutes before anyone will be charged!

A statement to Thurock NubNews says: "All NCP/c2c car parks have a grace period. The grace period has previously been 20 minutes on this site, but is currently 29 minutes to allow customers to have some extra time to understand the new ANPR systems and not feel rushed.

"The ANPR system also allows a customer to pay up until 4am on the day they park, which would explain why there was a charge showing for this particular customer when they logged on.

"If they had left it, then the system would have reached 4am and realised that their parking session was within the grace period and not charged the customer. So the refund had already been arranged."

Mr Dowdall confirmed that the money has now been returned, but added: "This whole thing makes little sense and clearly this system isn't working."

Thurrock NubNews editor Neil Speight visited the site today and can confirm that there is no signage at all relating to the fact that people can enter and leave the car park without paying and that is is a safe 'drop off point'.

"As Mr Dowdall so rightly says this is ridiulous," he says. "Thurrock Council demolished the old drop off space, they are the people who have been in charge of this project and it beggars belief that they didn't know there was a period of grace – so why not let people know they can use the car park to drop off and turn round?

"Everywhere else near the station is now plastered with yellow lines and parking permit restrictions so you would have thought they would have shown a bit of common sense and put some signage up – for safety's sake at least."

Thurrock NubNews contacted Thurrock Council on Saturday morning asking about the car park, dropping off and safety issues - and why there was 'no period of grace'.

Other than an acknowledgement of receipt of the question yesterday (Monday) morning which said: "We will come back to you when possible", there has been no response.