Imagine this: You’ve just spent a peaceful afternoon at your favorite country park, enjoying nature, walking your dog, or catching up with friends. But weeks later, you’re hit with a parking fine—despite having proof you paid. This is the reality for thousands of visitors to Kent’s cherished green spaces, and it’s sparked a scandal that’s been brewing for nearly two years.
Since KentOnline began investigating parking issues at eight of Kent County Council’s (KCC) country parks, the frustration among visitors has only grown. The problem? Faulty pay-and-display machines, managed by Euro Car Parks (ECP), have led to countless ‘major keying errors,’ where drivers are accused of mistyping their vehicle registrations. Even more infuriating? Many of these errors result in £20 admin fees—or worse, full fines—despite evidence of payment.
But here’s where it gets controversial: ECP raked in £19,800 from these alleged errors between January 2024 and January 2025. Meanwhile, park-goers like Katie McCabe and retired legal executive Geoff Hanington are being hounded by debt collectors for fines they believe are unjust. Katie, who visited Lullingstone Country Park in 2024, refuses to pay on principle: ‘If they want to take me to court, they can,’ she says. Geoff, 83, feels ‘victimised’ after being fined despite having a valid ticket and proof of payment.
The British Parking Association (BPA) claims major keying errors—where multiple digits are mistyped—should only result in a reduced £20 charge. But what happens when the machines themselves are to blame? Complaints range from overly sensitive keypads to blank screens and tickets printing prematurely. And this is the part most people miss: If the machine takes your money and prints a ticket, you’re left with a false sense of security—only to be fined later.
After 18 months of pressure, KCC is finally trialing upgraded machines with larger screens at parks like Pegwell Bay and Trosley. They’re also reviewing their contract with ECP, set to expire in April. A spokesperson promises future arrangements will focus on improving the visitor experience. But is it too little, too late?
Here’s the kicker: ECP itself was recently fined £473,000 by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) for failing to provide information—a penalty that raises questions about their accountability. If they can ignore a government body, what does that say about how they treat park visitors?
The data is staggering: In 2025 alone, £18,680 was collected from 934 people who paid admin fees for alleged keying errors. Lullingstone Country Park topped the list, with £5,240 collected from 262 visitors. Overall, 15% of the 9,189 tickets issued were for major keying errors, and one in four were appealed. Yet, 33% of tickets remain unpaid—a sign of widespread frustration.
Now, the big question: Is KCC doing enough to protect its visitors? Should the appeals process be adjusted to automatically waive fees for those with valid tickets? And should ECP be held more accountable for faulty machines? Let’s spark a conversation—do you think these fines are fair, or is this a system designed to exploit park-goers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
