BBC News reporters James W Kelly and Matt Graveling have revealed that vehicles trapped in a central London mechanical stacked car park have finally been freed after more than two years. Owners of the vehicles received an email from the management company for Rathbone Square, CBRE, stating that three-hour slots would be available for collections until 23 May. This news brings relief to small business co-owners Mark Lucas and Steve Davies, who were left over £46,000 out of pocket when their Vauxhall Vivaro van became trapped in the building complex near Oxford Street in December 2022.
CBRE has chosen not to comment on the cause of the car park malfunction or whether owners can claim for any financial losses incurred. A resident within the Rathbone Square development mentioned to BBC London that around 40 vehicles could be stuck. However, CBRE did not respond when asked to confirm this number. Stacked car parks utilize mechanical platforms and lifts to park cars on top of each other, maximizing the available space.
The email sent to vehicle owners outlines a step-by-step guide for retrieving their vehicles and assures vehicle owners that the car stacker will remain closed to all other vehicles during this period. Steve Davies, co-owner of HCS Furniture in Buckinghamshire, expressed his anticipation and uncertainty about the van’s battery condition upon retrieval. He plans to have it low-loaded back to their location for servicing and a diagnostic test on the battery’s status. Derek Millard-Smith, a parking law specialist, suggested that owners may be able to claim not only for direct monetary costs but also for the inconvenience and loss of enjoyment experienced.
Although the car park system at Rathbone Square has been operational since 15 March, the whole ordeal has left a lasting impact on those affected. Mr. Davies emphasized the lack of communication from CBRE as a significant issue, stating that better communication could have mitigated the traumatic experience for those involved. Despite multiple attempts to contact CBRE for further clarification, the firm has only confirmed that the car park system is now fixed
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