PARKING in Brecon has driven two angry motorist into writing to the council to complaining about their enforcement policies.

Melanie Lewis has hit out at Powys Council for leaving the Scout Lane car park fall into disrepair, leaving motorists ’guessing’ where to park.

And a visitor to Theatre Brecheiniog has criticised the local authority for failing to display signs informing motorists that charges apply in the car park by theatre after 5.30pm.

Brecon & Radnor Express deputy advertising manager Mrs Lewis was left reeling on Tuesday, February 28, when she discovered the parking ticket on her car.

The 51-year-old from Talgarth said: "I pay £3.20 a day to park in a poorly maintained, mess of a car park.

"The weather was atrocious when I parked there on Tuesday. Each empty bay was sodden in mud and you couldn’t clearly see the markings for the bay.

"I basically had to guess where the bay was. I parked as close to the car on my left as I could to try and park within the designated bay, even though it was impossible to tell where each bay started and ended."

Mrs Lewis said that she regularly faces an obstacle course of mud, wet leaves and general mess when leaving her vehicle in Scout Lane car park, one of the three long stay car parks near the town centre.

"This particular day the mud was even worse than normal," said the mother-of-one. "The rain had been lashing down and the weather had blown leaves and branches everywhere. I was worried I would that I was going to slip when I opened the car door. The mud and cracks in on the road are so dangerous; there have been a couple of occasions when I’ve felt unsafe getting in and out of my car."

Had the bays been clearly marked and the car park adequately maintained, Mrs Lewis would happily accept the fine and pay it promptly.

She said: "This parking ticket has just made me more annoyed about the fact that the car park, which is used by people visiting and working in the town, is being left to fall into a state of disrepair. I appreciate that the council are under pressure to save money but if you are charging people to park, then surely there are funds available to keep the car park in a good condition."

Mrs Lewis is appealing against the fine and urging anyone who has been hit with a ticket for the same reason to put pressure on the local authority to bring the car park up to standard.

"If they are not going to maintain it then don’t charge," she added.

Mrs Lewis isn’t the only disgruntled motorists hit with a parking fine in recent weeks. In a letter to the Brecon & Radnor a visitor to Theatre Brecheiniog has hit out at the council for failing to visible display a sign informing motorists that parking charges DO apply after 5.30pm at the car park opposite the theatre.

The man, who doesn’t want to be named, said: "Arriving at the poorly lit car park, after dark, under pouring rain and with a strong wind blowing, I failed to see the notice attached to an unlit lamppost with two bits of string, which stated, when I read it later with the aid of the torch that charges did apply after 5.30pm.

"I have paid my excessive, in my view, car parking penalty charge with some degree of disappointment. I suggest the management of your town car parks is improved so that any signage is improved to a standard or quality that can be read by visitors of all nationalities in future in any weather conditions.