I WOULD like to briefly relate to you my experience as a first-time visitor to the Swindon factory outlet on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Some friends told us about the out of town factory shops saying it was worth a visit.
Despite a fairly long drive from Dorset, we decided to go and have a look as the weather was too awful for much else.
Coming towards the outlet from the south, along Rodbourne Road I saw a car park on the left of me and the outlet entrance on the right.
Whilst looking out for where I was driving (and bearing in mind it was lashing down with rain) I turned immediately left at the end of the car park and back around into it. It seemed the logical entrance to the car park.
Imagine my annoyance two weeks later to receive a fixed penalty notice for driving in a bus lane (the left turn off of Rodbourne Road).
Despite making representations to the council about the awful weather, the fact I was a first time visitor to the town and was drawn to the car park as the obvious road was to turn left into it, they failed to appreciate my reasoning and slapped the fine on me.
Whilst I am fully aware that it’s an offence to drive in a bus lane, the mitigating circumstances of the weather and my ignorance of any local road conditions has resulted in my visit to Swindon costing me a fine, on top of our spend in the town.
My wife was initially quite keen to return but due to the zealousness of your council officials we have decided we will never come back to your town as we no longer wish to expose ourselves to any further hidden traps to the unwary motorist.
K LANE Gillingham Dorset
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