Parking mad at fast food chain

Aug 14 2008 by Debbie Spalding, West Lothian Courier

A GRANDMOTHER has said she would rather be taken to court than pay McDonald’s a £95 parking fine.

Elizabeth Neeson was slapped with the hefty ticket after taking her family for a treat to celebrate her daughter giving birth.

But the 54 year old is now facing legal action from the fast food chain which is refusing to drop the fine.

Margaret said she took daughter Louise and son David along with their partners and three young children to the restaurant at Almondvale in Livingston in June.

She arrived at 5.20pm and left just after 7pm after finishing their meal. But just days later she received a letter from McDonald’s saying she should not have parked for longer than one hour.

Elizabeth, from Sutherland Way in Livingston, hit out: “I am more than happy for them to take me to court. It’s the principle of it, we were actually eating we hadn’t just left the car to go shopping.

“Does McDonald’s really think you can decide what you’re having, stand in the queue then feed five adults and three children in the space of one hour?

“We did see signs saying not to park for more than an hour but assumed it was for other people using the car park, not diners.”

McDonald’s spokesman Steven Birrell said the restrictions were put in place to stop people using the car park while shopping at the Almondvale Centre and McArthurGlen.

He added: “There are large signs throughout the car park informing customers that the restrictions are in place. here are also signs at the entrance to both the restaurant and the drive-thru lane as well as signage at the front counter.

“Because we realise that some customers will need more time, the signs and in-store poster invite them to notify our shift manager at the time of ordering. McDonald's receive no money from the fines.”