A group of women from Leeds were left stranded at the weekend after their cars were locked in a Manchester car park overnight.
The group had parked in Piccadilly Gardens Car Park, owned by Manchester Council, in the city centre, but hadn't realised it locked at 11.30pm. When they came back to get it after midnight, they were horrified to find the security shutters firmly down for the night - and they wouldn't reopen until 5.30am.
They tried to ring the out of hours number, but got no response. The group ended up having to shell out for hotel rooms last minute to stay in overnight until they could get their cars back, the Manchester Evening News (MEN) reports.
The Leeds group were stranded alongside MEN reporter Dianne Bourne, who had also parked in Piccadilly Gardens to go to a Manchester Eurovision event in the city centre. Dianne said there isn't anything on the outside of the car park to state it doesn't open for 24 hours - she only noticed the sign that it wouldn't open again until 5.30am staring through the security shutters.
Dianne had also paid £25.50 for a 24-hour stay in the car park, which she assumed meant the car park would be open for those 24 hours. Dianne was stranded by herself, with her house keys locked in her car boot and only disposable contact lenses with her - meaning she wouldn't be able to see in the morning if she stayed at a hotel room in Manchester.
She ended up spending £85 for a taxi home, and then another £15 to get a train back in to pick up her car. Dianne wrote that she knows it was her fault, but wants to make sure others know Piccadilly Gardens Car Park shuts overnight.
Dianne said she thinks the sign inside the car park that tells you it closes overnight "doesn't exactly leap out at you". It's advertised on a smallish red sign next to the payment sign.
A spokesperson for Manchester Council told the MEN: "In the past there have been concerns raised around antisocial behaviour taking place at this car park late at night and early in the morning.
"As a result, the decision was taken to secure the building overnight to act as a deterrent. This has been the case for several years now.
"The Council offers the option for a motorist to pay for 24 hours of parking as the destination is popular for people visiting the city who may wish to leave their car overnight if they are staying in a hotel or nearby accommodation. There is however clear signage near payment points as well as at the exits displaying the opening and closing times of the car park."
Dianne says Piccadilly Gardens is the only council car park in the city centre that locks overnight, and advised people to make sure they triple-check when parking.
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