Drivers still being fined despite Rottingdean phone signal issue

Motorists in Rottingdean and West Saltdean say a poor phone signal and the loss of ticket machines means they are ending up without a means to pay.

City councillor Mark Earthey is telling smartphone users who attempt to pay for parking using the Pay-By-Phone app to make a note of the date and time they fail to secure a signal to pay for their parking.

People served by the mobile phone companies Three and EE have not been able to secure a signal in the village since the end of August last year after the mobile phone mast was removed from the roof of the White Horse pub during its refurbishment.

Mark Earthey Rottingdean Bh Indies 2023

Councillor Earthey said: “There has been little or no mobile phone signal in Rottingdean for months, a fact known to Brighton and Hove City Council, yet still drivers are receiving tickets from enforcement officers.

“This is grossly unfair as the only means to pay is via the PayByPhone app.

“The contract between the council and drivers for parking is ‘legally frustrated’, providing very strong grounds for appeal.

“EE customers have an indisputable case for appeal, given that EE has recently applied to the High Court for permission to build an emergency phone mast in the Marine Cliffs car park.

“Indeed, If both EE and the High Court accept there is an inadequate signal, then maybe BHCC and its Parking Enforcement Officers should too. Customers of the other mobile network operators also have a very strong case.”

MBNL, which provides mobile phone infrastructure for Three and EE, applied to install an emergency temporary mast at the Marine Cliffs car park in Marine Drive in May 2023.

The company withdrew its application following 17 objections citing the effect on a nearby bat colony, a loss of parking spaces and damage to the cliffs.

In March the company obtained a court order to put up an emergency telecoms mast in the same seafront car park and has closed it to the public to install the mast, base station and generator.

Councillor Earthey and his Brighton and Hove Independents colleague Bridget Fishleigh, have repeatedly raised the issue of parking payments in the village since Brighton and Hove City Council shut down the cash or card parking meters.

Rottingdean currently has no PayPoint outlet where drivers can pay for parking using cash or card.

Trevor Muten Labour Goldsmid

The chairman of the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee, Councillor Trevor Muten, said: “We’re aware of concerns that phone network signal problems in Rottingdean could cause problems for people paying for parking by phone.

“However, our Rottingdean car parks consistently take around 3,000 successful phone parking transactions every month.

“We’ve had no appeals against penalty charge notices from drivers saying that they had difficulties using phone networks.

“A mobile phone mast was installed in Rottingdean last month intended to improve mobile phone signal.

“According to Ofcom all phone networks in the area are operational. This is in line with our experience of day-to-day operations in the car parks.

“As part of our ongoing review of parking arrangements in the city we are also exploring other options to make it easier to pay for parking.

“We understand PayPoint is in advanced discussions with a new outlet in Rottingdean. We hope this will provide greater options for paying for parking there.

“We are sorry if any drivers have experienced inconvenience because of the phone signal problems. We are committed to fully resolving parking access for all in Rottingdean and across the city.”