A disabled pensioner from outside Oswestry believes a fine imposed on him by a parking firm responsible for Sainsbury's new arrangements has caused unnecessary distress.

Roy McMahon, 74, from Pant, was fined by Horizon Parking after a visit to the store in Blackgate Street on May 12, despite having registered his blue badge to park at Sainsbury's, and was on his ninth visit since the changes in March.

Mr McMahon emailed the parking company requesting an apology and the fine to be cancelled – which it has been – but still felt a grievance for having to go through the process and hopes his experience can help others who have been wrongly fined.

"While I'm happy that they have rescinded my fine and sent an apology, I'm still disappointed that they are trying to place the blame on me or the store," he said.

"Somebody at Horizon has made an honest mistake.

"Or the parking company has been caught out and now they know not to mess with me.

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself because I can look after me but there are people of my age who would have panicked and paid the fine.

"There are many people who come through Oswestry to their caravans in mid Wales and this will impact on them."

Mr McMahon believes the situation at the car park needs to be resolved because of issues around parking for disabled shoppers like himself.

He admits he takes a long time to do his shopping and he added that stores should not be charging for people to park there.

He said: "It says I stayed for 37 minutes but on the fine it says from 10.25am until 11.03 – that's 38 minutes. I would have contested that in court.

"I told them that if I am going to do a big shop, I can't get around in 30 minutes as it takes me at least an hour.

"You can be at the checkout for 10 minutes and then when you have a situation like last month with the roadworks in Salop Road, you can be in the car park for 15 minutes.

"Sainsbury's want people to spend money there but they're charging people to got here and spend money.

"I've been going to this supermarket for 12 years, ever since I came to the area.

"I shouldn't have to have appealed because I registered my blue badge. Why should I waste my time doing this?"

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "We have explained to Roy that customers now have the convenience of validating their parking as part of their shop with us.

"New guidance has been displayed which includes information for blue badge holders, who can register their vehicle with the store. We have helped Roy to do this and waived the charges he received as a gesture of goodwill.”

In their reply to Mr McMahon, Horizon said: "Please accept our sincere apologies that your vehicle details do not appear to have been registered previously by the store."