A driver has won a court case against a parking company over an unpaid £160 fine, because they didn't provide her with information in Welsh. A judge ruled against Simple Intelligent Parking Ltd in the civil case because they had declined to provide the information bilingually.
Elysteg Llwyd Thomas from Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, was sent a £60 fine in English. Ms Thomas replied to say she would pay if the company sent all correspondence in Welsh - including a copy of the fine.
The company ignored her request, and instead upped the fine first to £100, then to £160.
Ms Thomas had been fined after parking at Lligwy beach, near Moelfre, Anglesey, in August 2021, reports the BBC. She was represented in the case by her father, Eifion Lloyd Jones, a member of Welsh language campaign group Dyfodol i'r Iaith.
Judge Merfyn Jones-Evans said all signs in car parks in Wales should be bilingual, according to the Protection of Freedom Act 2012.
Dylan Rhys Jones, head of the School of Law at Wrexham's Glyndwr University, said: "If people continue to challenge fines that are given in English only like this, and that companies realise that it is cheaper for them in a way to provide documentation in Welsh rather than going to court... then it is going to be cheaper for them to provide documents in Welsh."
Simple Intelligent Parking Ltd told S4C Newyddion: "We are waiting for the written judgment so that we can take the appropriate steps. However, we anticipate that we will appeal against the decision as it is wrong according to the law."
