Mayor holds hands up to Sunday parking error urging drivers to request refund

In a personal Facebook post, Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) has accepted the blame for wrongly implementing Sunday parking charges, saying he takes “full responsibility” for what the council described as a “discrepancy”.

As reported yesterday (Monday), shoppers using council-owned car parks on Sunday (5 January) were shocked to find a £2 charge, despite council assurances that free Sunday parking would continue throughout 2025.

Read: Council accused of ‘u-turn’ after reversing ‘stealth’ Sunday parking charges

In the post on his ‘Tom4Change’ page he wrote: “Mistakes can occur in any organisation, and when they do, it is essential to take responsibility.

“As Leader of the Borough, I take full responsibility for the error that suggested a £2 charge for car parking on Sundays. This was an oversight and will be corrected at the earliest opportunity.”

Clarification – Sunday Parking to Remain Free in the Borough
Mistakes can occur in any organisation, and when they do, it is essential to take responsibility. As Leader of the Borough, I take full responsibility for the error that suggested a £2 charge for car parking on Sundays. This was an oversight and will be corrected at the earliest opportunity.
I believe in accountability and transparency. Rather than attributing blame to junior officers, I acknowledge that neither I, the Executive Councillors, nor the other Councillors who voted on this measure identified the mistake. However, I want to reassure residents that our long-standing intention has always been to keep Sunday parking free in the Borough.
To clarify – Sunday parking will remain free.
This error affected only one Sunday, and I hope the impact was minimal. If you have been affected by this charge, please feel free to contact me directly at tom.wootton@bedford.gov.uk, and we will work to resolve the matter promptly.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. — The apology was posted on the Tom4Change Facebook page. Image: Tom Wootton/Facebook

Bedford Borough Council has urged drivers who were issued with a parking ticket on Sunday to contact them – and said it will cancel the charge “where appropriate”.

The Executive voted in November not to introduce Sunday charges, however, a £2 charge was still introduced at carparks across the borough on New Year’s Day.

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of a discrepancy in the fees and charges update that took effect on 1 January 2025 regarding Sunday parking charges.

“To clarify, while the update referenced a £2 daily charge, the council’s Executive confirmed on 20 November 2024 that Sunday parking will remain free this year, as it was in 2024.

“If you received a parking fine for a Sunday car park infringement, please contact us, and we will cancel the charge where appropriate.

“We apologise for any confusion and appreciate your understanding,” they said.

The mayor went one step further, encouraging drivers to contact him directly for a refund.

“This error affected only one Sunday, and I hope the impact was minimal,” he wrote.

“If you have been affected by this charge, please feel free to contact me directly at tom.wootton@bedford.gov.uk, and we will work to resolve the matter promptly.”

Additional reporting by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter