A WOMAN from Glan Conwy has had a fine cancelled, which she had received after parking at a Llandudno Junction supermarket before trying to raise money.

Sarah Lesiter-Burgess, a mum-of-three and primary school teacher, was involved in trying to gather donations for the Glan Conwy branch of the Fuel Poverty Action campaign at Tesco, on G Road, on September 2.

The group is managed by a small number of volunteers like Sarah, with an aim to provide advice to people facing financial hardship, and to help them access valuable grants and provide a warm space.

READ MORE:

Couple have fine cancelled after parking by Rhyl pub on Armistice Day

Towyn mum received parking fine in Rhyl after stopping to tend to baby

Realising that she would be leaving her car in the supermarket’s car park, owned by Horizon Parking, for more than three hours, she visited customer services to report this.

Sarah said: “There was a book open on the desk with names, car registration details, date and the time the person had arrived. There were no entries with a departure time.

“A few weeks later, I received notification from Horizon that I was to be fined £35, rising to £70 if not paid within 14 days.

“I visited the Tesco store and showed a copy of my fine to one of the managers. The manager said that he would deal with this, and that I was to ignore any further correspondence from Horizon.”

Several weeks later, though, Sarah received a further notice, so visited the store to ask what the current state of play was.

She said she was told by customer services said that they don't deal with matters such as this.

Sarah then filed an appeal stating that she had been doing charitable work, which was not upheld.

Another appeal was then made, outlining in detail that she had been a volunteer, raising money for a charitable cause, and that she had signed the book with her car details.

This appeal was also not upheld.

Sarah added: “I visited the Llandudno Junction Tesco customer services, to be advised that a manager would call me.

“Approximately two weeks later, I was called by a Tesco manager, who said that she had a large number of them to appeal, so would add mine in the email to Horizon.

“Subsequently, I have been contacted by Horizon confirming that they are upholding the fine, but will kindly leave it at £70 if I pay within 14 days.

“I feel it doesn't encourage people to volunteer for charitable causes and doesn't reflect well on Tesco.

“In giving over three hours of my time to help people in these hard times, I am facing a financial penalty myself.”

A spokesperson for Horizon said evidence of Sarah working for the charity would have led to the fine being cancelled at an earlier instance, but that Sarah did not provide this.

After being contacted by the Pioneer, though, the spokesperson said the fine had been cancelled.

Attempts were also made to contact Tesco for comment.