Couple hit with £80 parking fine as they waited for Covid test at drive-through centre

A COUPLE were slapped with an £80 parking fine as they waited to get a Covid-19 test.

Chris Luke, 76, and his wife Helen, 65, sat in their car while waiting to receive a swab at the Exeter Chiefs Stadium in Devon.

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They had arrived early and waited at the testing site for 27 minutes but were horrified when they were sent a parking fine several days later.

Officials said their car had spent too long on the grounds of the English Premiership rugby side.

The retired couple pair had booked a Covid test at the venue that is 40 mins from their home in Seaton, Devon, after Helen fell ill.

Chris said: "We went to a drive-through centre and didn't even get out of the car at all.

"But we were early, I always go to appointments early just in case.

'SO SHOCKED'

"Five or six days later the letter showed up with the fine.

"I was just so shocked.

"It said I had been in the grounds for longer than I was allowed without a ticket and they had photographed me entering and leaving the site.

"I sent the parking firm a letter saying I would fight it and take them to court and they would be laughed out of court."

Chris and Helen had booked a test for 10.15am but arrived at 9.49am and left by 10.17am when they were fined on Sept 10.

Premier Park, who manage the stadium car park, later rescinded the ticket.

Chris added: "The grounds have been given over to the testing site so I don't understand why they would even be operating the cameras.

"I wonder how many people would have just paid, it's horrendous."

Chris has emphysema and a lung condition and Helen has previously had cancer, so they have been careful during the pandemic and always worn masks.

Helen's Covid test came back negative.

Premier Park have not yet responded to requests for a comment.