IRVINE motorists are being urged to join a national campaign to crackdown on outrageous parking fines.

The It’s Not Fine campaign by Citizen’s Advice Scotland (CAS) has found that unfair fines imposed by private car parks could be open to legal challenge.

The news comes after years of complaints from drivers over excessive fines.

Just two weeks ago the Times told how fed-up motorist Euphemia MacLeod was left fuming at a ‘disgraceful’ £90 fine from operators TPS Parking Solutions Ltd for staying too long in East Road Car Park in Irvine.

But now CAS says the humble motorist could have the power to challenge the hefty penalties.

The organisation says the number of people seeking help on the issue had risen by 45 per cent in the past year.

And according to CAS the number of people seeking advice on the issue was 4,000 in February 2013, but had risen to 25,000 in March 2015.

Legal advice sought by CAS indicates any charges must be clearly signed and must not be excessive.

Cases CAS has dealt with include a woman in the east of Scotland charged £120 for staying 28 minutes longer than the free time allowed.

The It’s Not Fine campaign found that private car parks often do not have clear signs showing their fees, and that many firms were using aggressive and misleading tactics when pursuing debts.

The car park in East Road has caused headaches for drivers for a number of years.

Parking at the facility is limited to a maximum of one hour and if any motorist exceeds that time limit, they are forced to pay a fine.

And that fine rises if it is not paid within 28 days.

The Times has frequently featured a number of residents who were unaware of the charges.

The most recent motorist to voice their fury about the charges was Euphemia MacLeod.

The Ardrossan woman thought it was free to park at the site and overstayed her welcome by three hours.

Euphemia then claims she received a letter in May saying that she had to pay £130 within two weeks. But she has refused to pay the fine.

Speaking to the Times this week, she claimed: “I received the fine back in April and I was surprised because I thought it was free.

“They sent me all these letters saying I had to pay a certain amount within 28 days.

“Then they were sending me letters saying as a goodwill gesture they would reduce it if it was paid in a certain time.

“I wrote to them saying that I dispute this and I’ve been advised to make a Freedom of Information request.

“I think it’s absolutely disgraceful, the Scottish Government should be looking into this.

“I hope people will learn from this and know from now on not to pay any charges.”