MORE than 70 drivers have been caught out by new evening parking charges across North Oxfordshire.

A total of 75 motorists have been fined £60 to £80 for not buying a parking ticket after evening charges were introduced in Cherwell District Council car parks in Bicester and Banbury on April 1.

A total of 35 were for not buying a ticket, 24 for overstaying and 16 for not displaying a ticket correctly.

Two women who were caught out said the change should have been better advertised, but the Conservative-controlled council said the plans had been made clear in advance.

Cheryl McCarron and Patricia Brindle, who parked in Bure Place carpark, Bicester, to attend a slimming club at the Ex Services’ Club, on Thursday last week got fines for not buying a 70p ticket.

The women said they did not know evening charges had been introduced and the council should have put out warning signs. They are planning to appeal.

Ms Brindle, from Langford Village, Bicester, said: “I have been driving for over 40 years and have never knowingly left my car without a valid ticket even for five minutes.

“Other members from the slimming club who received tickets are pensioners and were near to tears when they found their tickets.”

Mrs McCarron, from Brill, near Thame, said: “I have parked there for many years and have never had to pay after 6pm so I’m not going to go to the machine and check.”

Parking charges have also gone up by 10p and blue badge holders now have to pay to park.

Cherwell’s interim chief executive Ian Davies said the changes had been publicised in its Cherwell Link magazine, which goes to all district homes, and with legal notices and stories in newspapers.

He said: “We have done a great deal to ensure people were informed of these changes. Drivers must accept some responsibility for making sure they abide by the regulations which are clearly stated on the information boards.”

Labour group leader Les Sibley said: “They are making a huge amount of money – this is a cash cow gone barmy.”