A group of grandparents are fighting back against fines issued by a private parking company on the outskirts of the city.

Parking operator National Parking Enforcement (NPE) are penalising parents who park outside the shops at Earlham House in the parent and child parking spaces but leave their kids - aged 12 or under - in their vehicle.

Pete Wilks, who lives in the Golden Triangle, received a £60 fine from NPE when he and his partner parked up for eight minutes in February 2022 using the parent and child bay next to Earlham House Post Office.

Norwich Evening News: Pete Wilks, Sandi George and Denise Carlo next to the yellow warning poster at Earlham House ShopsPete Wilks, Sandi George and Denise Carlo next to the yellow warning poster at Earlham House Shops (Image: John Greenaway)

His partner stayed in the car with their sleeping grandchild, so Mr Wilks was "astonished" to receive a charge notice for breaking the condition, imposed by NPE, for getting out of the vehicle unaccompanied by his grandchild.

He said: "It's the parents and carers who are responsible for deciding what is in the child's best interest and not a parking company.

"I asked NPE to let a judge decide the matter and haven't heard anything more."

Norwich Evening News: The fines have been issued at Earlham House Shops, in NR2 - picture taken in 2017The fines have been issued at Earlham House Shops, in NR2 - picture taken in 2017 (Image: Newsquest)

Sandi George, who lives near Earlham House, has also challenged legal action against her and is waiting to hear whether NPE will pursue their threat after not removing her grandchildren from her car, when parked in a parent and child bay, in April 2022.

She said: "I literally popped into the Post Office for three minutes and 35 seconds according to NPE's letter. 

"My two grandchildren were visible to me the whole time I left my vehicle.

"How can NPE invoice people for not taking a child under 12 years of age out of a car in a parent-child parking bay, when there is no obvious sign visible indicating such a rule? 

"It's ludicrous."

Norwich Evening News: The parking operator, National Parking Enforcement (NPE) fine those who park in a parent/child bay without removing children under 12 years of ageThe parking operator, National Parking Enforcement (NPE) fine those who park in a parent/child bay without removing children under 12 years of age (Image: John Greenaway)

NPE has not responded to a request for comment.

Denise Carlo, a former Nelson ward councillor, has pasted a yellow notice next to the parking bay drawing people’s attention to the issue.

She added: "I put up the warning poster because NPE's condition for parking in a parent and child bay can't easily be read."