A Colchester haulage boss said he was "very disappointed" after losing a court case over parking fines from an enforcement firm in Ipswich.
B&E Hamblion was sued by The Land Group after it refused to pay £900 for three fines dished out by Proserve on the Ransomes Industrial Park.
The haulier was represented by the Road Haulage Association's legal team, which argued that the fines were excessively high.
The trade association had hoped it would be a test case for other firms to demand refunds. But a judge ruled that the fines were not excessive and Hamblion now has 14 days to pay up, or appeal.
"Ransomes Park said they had issues with trespassing and parking so they implemented this new parking policy to keep the roads clear, but the argument for our defence was that the amount was too high," said Hamblion MD Kevin Reid.
"It’s a 250 acre site, the contract is to keep roads clear for the land owner 24 hours a day, seven days a week and they have to drive around in a vehicle, so their defence was that the costs would come to a fair bit.
"I am very disappointed it went against us. Our legal team have said we should really consider appealing."
Chrys Rampley, infrastructure manager at the RHA, said it was also disappointed and added: "I don’t think the evidence was viewed properly. Our biggest concern is that there are few worse examples of exorbitant parking charges and this will give Proserve and Ransomes Park the confidence to continue charging this level of fine."
Nigel Robson, a director at Ransomes Park’s parent company The Land Group, said: "We are disappointed that it had to go to court in the first place but having done it and been vindicated we hope we can carry on in managing the estate, encouraging as many people as possible to work there."
