A CHARITY for people with brain injuries has missed out on thousands of pounds after a controversial parking firm went into liquidation owing money to a Ferndown pub.

The White Heather in Ferndown had planned to donate its percentage from tickets issued by NuPark and Ideal Parking Solutions to the charity, Headway.

Headway recently hit the headlines with its fund in memory of the late actress Natasha Richardson, who died in March after a skiing accident in Canada. It gained the pub’s support after the death of regular Matt Clifford.

But four months after being placed in liquidation, the White Heather has “yet to see a penny” of a debt estimated at more than £6,000 by landlady, Christine Shade.

“It was presented to us as an acceptable way to manage the car park and support the charity, but we haven’t seen a penny,” said Mrs Shade.

“A small percentage was due to the pub and we made it very clear that it would go to the brain injury charity, Headway.”

Ideal Parking Solutions went into liquidation last October, after buying its parking business from NuPark, which issued more than 800 tickets last summer from the car park of the White Heather pub.

The firm used automatic number plate recognition technology, photographing number plates and issuing tickets to those not on an approved list.

But while the car park is no longer patrolled, Mrs Shade says the problem of people using her car park without using the pub, has largely been solved.

“A lot of people have developed a regular habit of coming in for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, or a home cooked meal.

“People are welcome to use the car park all day – we only ask that they show willing,” she added.