A SHOPPER has warned people in Gerrards Cross about a parking management firm after she was hit with a £95 fine for pulling up in what she thought was a public road.

Jennifer Thompson, a property developer from Cross Lanes, Chalfont St Peter, was issued with a fine last week after parking in the entrance to a service road behind Lloyds TSB bank in Packhorse Road in November.

A letter came through the post from G24 Parking Solutions, a private parking firm, with a photograph of her car parked in Bulstrode Way, which leads into the service road, and a demand for her to pay £95.

There are signs up in the service road warning drivers it is private property, but Ms Thompson is angry that she was issued with the fine even though she was parked before the start of the signs.

She said: "I was away from the car for one minute to visit the bank. I know it is a private road and I would never park in there.

"I thought where I parked was a public road. There are no yellow lines or any indications."

Ms Thompson is also angry that the payment demand makes no mention of what will happen if the money is not sent through.

She said: "I phoned them but they were very vague.

"You don't know what right they have to do this.

"Anyone could start doing this. I used to live in a private road, so could I have started charging people? It's wrong. I certainly won't be paying but other people might. I am sure a lot of people are being caught out."

Avril Martin, a manager at G24 Parking Solutions, said there is an appeals process unhappy motorists can use. She would not discuss Ms Thompson's case and could not confirm what action would be taken if the fine was not paid.