A parking app glitch that saw payment taken for the wrong car park landed a driver in a six-month dispute over a fine.

Pensioner Roy Bromwich paid to park his vehicle in a car park in Chatham on the RingGo cashless software and returned to find he had been slapped with a fixed penalty notice.

He was in James Street car park but, inadvertently, paid for an hour’s stay at an adjoining site, Rhode Street, just a few metres away – both of which are owned by Medway Council and charge identical rates.

Retired Mr Bromwich disputed the £25 fine but was told he had to pay.

In desperation, he appealed to an independent parking adjudicator which ruled in his favour.

The arbitrator highlighted a lack of signage defining the Rhode Street and James Street sites, which are behind the former Debenhams store.

It found there was no separate entrance sign or “a clear physical boundary”.

Its response read: “The driver returned before the expiry and was handed the penalty charge notice and spoke to the officer.

“The council does not dispute the driver’s account that the officer could see, at the time, that payment had been made for Rhode Street.”

The adjudicator felt the council should have used its “discretion to waive the penalty”.

Mr Bromwich, 70, had not noticed in his hurry to run an errand that RingGo had registered him a slot in the other site in Rhode Street.

He believes the GPS technology used by the app identified the wrong car park for payment purposes.

The final adjudication published in December stated that the function of the app was a “causative factor”.

It said: “The PCN alleges parking without payment of the charge, but the correct amount was paid to the council and the council has not proved that error by the driver was the primary cause of the mismatch.

“On the evidence that is available to me in this case, I find the contravention not proved. There is nothing to pay.”

Mr Bromwich, who lives in Chatham, had been driving his partner’s car on May 24 last year when he received the fine.

Mr Bromwich said: “This is not about the money. That amount would get you a meal for two in Nandos or a couple of glasses of pinot.

“It’s the principle. There is no denying I paid to park and the money is all going to the same authority.

“So why has the council taken this stand?

“I spoke to the parking attendant and he understood what had happened and told me I would not have to pay if I appealed.

“It’s a waste of money and time, bureaucracy gone mad.

“It has taken me more than six months, but has been well worth it.

“I see this as a great victory.”

A Medway Council spokesman said: “There is signage in all council-owned car parks giving the name and reference number for the car park they’re parked in.

“All drivers are reminded to check the location on the signage for the parking app to ensure they avoid getting parking fines.”