Members of a popular leisure club have reacted angrily after new signs warning of £100 parking fines were erected despite longstanding complaints there are not enough spaces for members.
David Lloyd in Herne Bay has told motorists they must park within marked bays after months of many being forced to leave their vehicles on verges, alongside kerbs and in other unofficial spaces when the car park reaches capacity.
Cars regularly park along the kerbside at David Lloyd in Herne Bay when spaces run out
Those who ignore the new rules face a £100 penalty charge notice issued by parking operator NPC.
The move is seen as an attempt to tackle ongoing parking problems at the club, where members say the car park is regularly full at peak times, forcing drivers to circle the site looking for a space before parking wherever they can or leaving their cars in the Sainsbury’s car park opposite.
While many members have welcomed the decision to crack down on motorists misusing disabled bays without displaying a Blue Badge, critics say the new restrictions fail to address the root cause of the problem.
“The only reason people are parking on the verges and next to kerbs is because there aren’t enough spaces there for the number of members they have,” said one gym-goer, who asked not to be named for fear of it affecting her membership.
“The solution would be to provide more car parking, but all these new rules do is limit the amount of their own members who can use the car park.
The new parking signs have been erected at David Lloyd Leisure Club in Herne Bay
“Instead, members will be forced to park over at Sainsbury’s, and I guess it won’t be long until they get fed up and also step up enforcement.
“The whole thing is a mess, and purely down to the fact that David Lloyd has continued to take on more and more members despite the ongoing complaints.
“For the money we’re being charged, it’s an absolute joke.”
The signs warn motorists they must park wholly within a marked bay and that vehicles left outside designated spaces or in disabled bays without displaying a valid Blue Badge could receive a parking charge.
Exactly how the new rules will be enforced is not known.
Parking companies often rely on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor vehicles, but reception staff are understood to have told members the car park will instead be patrolled during busy periods.
Members have also reportedly been told action could be taken if incorrectly parked vehicles are reported.
A van parked by the kerbside at David Lloyd in Herne Bay today despite new signs warning of £100 fines
The latest measures come just weeks after KentOnline revealed widespread frustration over parking at the leisure club, with members claiming the car park is routinely overflowing.
Drivers previously described spending several minutes circling the site before giving up and parking along kerbs, on grass verges or in other unmarked areas.
Others said they regularly use the neighbouring Sainsbury’s car park because there is nowhere else to leave their vehicles.
The issue has again sparked debate on social media following the installation of the new signs.
Claire Creaven wrote: “Sorry, I’m a little confused. I get the disabled bays, parent and child, and the loading bay, but this will actually make parking worse, as where people could park alongside the flower beds in not such dangerous areas, we now can’t. So actually we’ve probably lost around eight to 10 spaces.”
Greg Evans added: “So where do they propose you park when all of the marked spaces are full?”
Others welcomed the tougher stance on disabled bays.
Members claims there are not enough spaces at the David Lloyd club in Herne Bay
Joanne Wanstall wrote: “Let’s hope they do fine the people parking incorrectly or those who think their posh car can park in disabled bays as they think they are more important.”
David Lloyd, where memberships can cost up to £174 a month, previously told KentOnline it had already taken steps to ease pressure on the car park, including asking staff to use public transport or off-site parking and reviewing class schedules to reduce overlaps.
A spokesperson said: “We are committed to maintaining a strong relationship with our local community.
“Since opening in December, we have found members spending extended periods of time enjoying our facilities, which is having a greater impact on car park availability.
“We have taken various steps to manage car parking on site and we are continuing to monitor the parking patterns closely, as well as exploring further options for additional parking.”
David Lloyd has been approached for comment on the introduction of the new parking enforcement signs.