Island Green talks still being pursued after Euro Car Parks ‘bottle’ key meeting
The operators of a city centre car park have been branded “unscrupulous” after pulling out of a meeting with two Members of the Senedd at the last minute.
Both Lesley Griffiths and Ken Skates had due to meet directors of Euro Car Parks to demand action over Island Green in Wrexham, where dozens of local people have been hit with unfair fines due to problems with pay and display machines.
Issues Island Green have been ongoing for several years, however appear to have worsened in recent months, with many shoppers now choosing to boycott the car park.
It had been hoped that the meeting would provide a breakthrough by raising the complaints directly with Euro Car Parks.
But the company ‘bottled it’ at the 11th hour and failed to provide another meeting date, according to Mr Skates.
“We were furious after receiving an email from the company less than 24 hours before the meeting saying they would not be attending – with no offer of an alternative date,” said the Clwyd South MS.
“It’s just another example of the company treating Wrexham – and local people – with contempt.”
Lesley Griffiths, MS for Wrexham, said the company “seem determined to avoid meeting altogether.”
Ms Griffiths said: ““After initially accepting our proposal to meet, Euro Car Parks’ decision to cancel at the last minute with no explanation was extremely frustrating.
“Regrettably, it appears ECP representatives do not wish to reschedule.
“Although they seem determined to avoid meeting altogether, we are not deterred and as long as parking issues persist at Island Green both Ken Skates and I will continue to fight and stand up for local residents.”
The email Ms Griffiths received from ECP cancelling the meeting also stated they were only going to respond in writing from now on.
Howeer Wrexham’s MS is challenging that point and seeking an explanation as to why the company will not meet with elected representatives.
Mr Skates said: “They clearly know what people think of them and they didn’t want to hear it. They bottled it.”
He also renewed his call for locals to boycott the car park.
“Euro Car Parks will only sit up and take note when they’re hit in the pocket,” he said.
“Times are incredibly tough at the moment, so I don’t see why anyone would continue to boost the profits of a company which treats local people in this way.”
ECP also told Ms Griffiths: “All machines are serviced on a regular basis, they have a live heartbeat which reports directly into our back-office system, therefore if there are any faults with the machine these can be managed remotely or by our 24/7 operations team who visit the site directly.”
Mr Skates said: “The idea that no fault can be attributed to their machines, and that they genuinely believe scores of local people are incapable of inputting their own registration numbers, is laughable.
“They’re unscrupulous.”
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