Retail park rule change which has hit shoppers with £100 fines has been ‘well received’, bosses say

Parking rule changes in Gloucester which have led to shoppers being issued with £100 fines has been well received, according to retail park bosses.

Shoppers who park at the Peel Centre are being hit with fines after being caught crossing the road to go to the Quays.

People have written to their civic representatives complaining of “indiscriminate fines” which have begun to be issued at the retail park.

They claim an unpublicised change to the terms and conditions for parking is the reason behind a surge in parking charge notices being issued.

The Peel Centre and Gloucester Quays shopping outlet share the same owner and shoppers question why they are being penalised for spending their cash.

And while you have to pay to park at the Quays, you can park for up to two hours for free at the Peel Centre.

But the recent changes do not allow people to park there and cross the road, according to shoppers.

Adam Jolley, associate director at Peel L&P told the BBC that parking control became necessary to ensure that genuine customers of the retail park can find convenient spaces.

“The Peel Centre is one of very few free car parks in the city centre, all of which are ‘customer only’.

“The decision to restrict parking has been well-received locally across social media.

“And ahead of the new regime being implemented, Ocean Parking carried out weeks of manned patrols to raise awareness.”

Ocean Parking, the company that manages the car park, also told the BBC that it has “significantly increased” the number of signs on site to more than 70.

“Prior to issuing any parking charge notices to motorists for leaving the location, the operative spent two weeks challenging visitors observed leaving site and informing them of the parking conditions.

“These challenges were largely ignored or met with abuse.”

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk