Anger at parking charges at Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft

Families visiting Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft have shared posts on Facebook complaining they have been fined for parking without knowing why.

The comments say that there were no obvious signs on display saying that payment is required and that when they paid to enter the site nobody mentioned it.

Pleasurewod Hills says the new charges came in at the end of May and there are extensive signs warning people about fines.

Suzi Russell, 35, has been attending the theme park since she was a young girl.

She says she lives within sight of the theme park and because she has a young family paid £85 for each of her family members to have a season pass.

Suzi Russell's young daughter Primrose cuddles Pleasurewood Hills bear while on a family day out (Image: Suzi Russell)

And on top of that she pays £9 per family car for the parking at the site.

But despite having paid for parking, she was upset to when after her most recent visit a letter with a £100 parking fine was delivered for both her and her partner's car.

"It is a disgrace and absolutely ridiculous that both my husband and I have been charged with a £100 fine having already paid, it's a joke in fact.

"I think it is appalling there was no communication as to when they were introducing the parking charges either as loads of other people I know have been fined without even knowing," the mother said.

The car parking charge which Suzi Russell received having already paid to park (Image: Suzi Russell)

Suzi Russell's long-term partner Ivan Phillips and their daughter Primrose Phillips enjoying an ice cream at Pleasurewood Hills (Image: Suzi Russell)

"There are signs up at the car park but if you've been going there for years and never had to pay I can see how you might miss them, but what is ridiculous is that we have actually paid.

"I have tried calling them to settle this and they have turned their phone lines off and put an automated voice there which is even more infuriating, but it shows how overwhelmed with complaints there are.

"They are shooting themselves in the foot and damaging their reputation, I have been coming here ever since I can remember for goodness sake.

"People might say well if you live so close why don't you walk, but we drive as we bring our kids and sometimes their friends so it is just easier."

Information about car parking is on the Pleasurewood Hills website, but it hasn't been shared on social media (Image: Screenshot of Pleasurewood Hills website)

To park at Pleasurewood Hills, you either have to use the RingGo app or pay at reception with a fee of £3 for 24 hours, plus a "convenience fee" of £0.20.

There are signs put up in the car park instructing people they need to pay.

However, customers have complained that they have used the site for decades and never previously had to pay and thus were not aware the parking charges had been introduced.Suzi Russell's long-term partner Ivan Phillips and their daughter Primrose Phillips with Woody Bear at Pleasurewood Hills (Image: Suzi Russell)

Other thrill seekers said that when they went to reception to pay for their day ticket, the staff never asked if they had paid for parking - then a month later the postman would deliver them a £100 fine.

A person, who wished to remain unnamed, said: "I spent over £100 to bring my son here for the day, which included entry, and to be fair we had a nice day, but I thought it was expensive.

"Nevertheless I didn't mind being ripped off as it was nice to hang out with my boy, but as a local lad, I thought there were no car parking charges, or there never used to be anyway.

"A few weeks later there's a letter through my door charging me £100. Like when did this happen, it's just greedy - fair enough signs are up but stupidly I didn't see them.

"I just want to know why when I went to reception to pay for entry with my son nobody asked for parking money or checked I'd parked, that's what I'm most angry about."

Aerial view of Pleasurewood Hills taken by Lee Sutton (Image: Lee Sutton)

A Pleasurewood Hills spokesperson said: "Whilst there has been some negativity surrounding the introduction of parking charges at the park it is important to remember that we have welcomed thousands of guests since its introduction the vast majority of whom have had no issue.

"Chargeable parking was introduced and enforced from May 30, 2024, however, our parking provider installed extensive signage upon entering the car park and throughout from May 1, 2024.

"Our website was updated with parking information and booking confirmation e-mails and tickets issued when booking online also advise customers of the parking charges and the process for this, which includes the option to pay at our admission booths or reception upon entering the park or via the RingGo App."