THE legacy of Excel Parking's time at Cavendish Retail Park still affects people fined months ago.

One user of the Sports Direct Gym, Silsden resident Jen Dewhirst, is fighting two parking charges dating back to January.

She said she will "stick to her guns", arguing that if she was in the wrong she would have paid.

Mrs Dewhirst said: “In January I parked in the car park at 6.30am for one hour while using the gym, which offers two hours free parking for members.

"I parked, entered the gym, entered my number plate in the computer system and used the gym for an hour before leaving.

"A month later I got a Parking Charge Notice. As I believed I'd used the car park appropriately I went to the gym and asked if they'd help me prove it.

"They provided my membership sign-in details, showing I was using the gym at the time of the charge. I couldn't prove I'd entered my number plate, but had proof I was at the gym.

"I appealed to the independent appeals service but my appeal was declined as I couldn't prove I'd entered my number plate.

"I've since had a letter from a legal company and Excel's charge has gone up a further £100."

Mrs Dewhirst, 30, said she now faces two parking charges of £160 each from Excel, one from when she used the car park on January 9, and another for January 23.

"I know I'm in the right," she said. "Either I pay this then try to claim it back, or I continue not paying and run the risk of the charge going up and up."

Another Sports Direct Gym member, Eastburn resident David Tudor, ticketed by Excel last year, said the firm's practices were "deplorable".

As reported in November 2016, Mr Tudor said his car was ticketed on October 7, even though he was in the car park for only 89 minutes so should have been covered by the gym's free parking.

Mr Tudor, 53, said: "Keighley is a working class town. A £100 parking ticket for a working class person is two days worth of wages, even three days for some people. It's disgusting.

"I hope things now change for the better."

Responding late last year, Excel Parking said its records indicated Mr Tudor's vehicle details had not been entered into the Sports Direct's gym's electronic system.

Reacting to Mrs Dewhirst's comments, the Excel spokesman said: "Sports Direct gym members were exempt from the requirement to pay for parking, while using the gym for stays of up to two hours, provided they input their full, accurate vehicle registration numbers on gym touchscreens on arrival.

"Data collected from the touchscreens is matched against records of vehicles captured by cameras, to identify vehicles exempt from paying.

"The terminals were configured so members had to input their vehicle registration number twice, mitigating the risk of incorrect details.

"Audits were carried out on the terminals, up to three times per day to check they were functioning correctly.

"On the dates in question, there's no record of Ms Dewhirst's vehicle details being entered into the touchscreens.

"There are records of vehicle registrations preceding, during, and after the times of her visits, demonstrating the terminals were working correctly.

"We remain satisfied that both Parking Charge Notices were issued correctly, and shall continue pursuing outstanding payments."