A CAMPAIGNER who petitioned for increased car parking at St Helens Junction rail station who expressed dismay after a key peak hour service was switched to Lea Green has been angered by parking tickets being issued to users.

Dave Barrow-Yates, from Sutton Leach, had campaigned for increased provision at Junction to ease congestion and welcomed the creation of an expanded 240-space car park at the Sutton station in a £792,000 scheme financed through the Government Sustainable Transport Enhancement Package and Merseytravel funding.

However, Dave, whose husband travels to Manchester each morning on the express train, has spoken of his disbelief after timetable alterations saw the journey stop at neighbouring Lea Green each morning instead.

Dave says the issues which plagued the area around Junction has now been transferred to Lea Green and says the move seems counterintuitive after the creation of the Junction car park.

He has expressed disappointment after saying he saw cars parked incorrectly at Lea Green, due to congestion, issued with parking tickets.

"It now seems passengers who cannot park due to lack of spaces, are being fined," said David.

"Yet again paying rail passengers are being targeted for even more money, as well as the spiralling costs of travel.

"We have still not had any updates from Trans Pennine, who said last time they were contacted that they were looking at possibly changing the express service to stop at St Helens junction, which has a lovely new empty car park!"

He added: "In my opinion this is due to a lack of communication and incompetence when the Trans Pennine service was introduced from Nothern's service and the station was changed for some reason to Lea Green.

"It would be really interesting to know why they implemented the station change in the first place!"

The Star has contacted Northern Rail for comment on the issue.