MOTORISTS are fuming after “sneaky” new rules were introduced at a car park on signs “too small to read” resulting in dozens of people being fined “for no reason”.
Shoppers and business owners have blasted parking bosses for cashing in on the “ticketing chaos” at Henwick Park trading estate, in Worcester.
For decades drivers had enjoyed relaxed parking restrictions at the site, which serves multiples businesses, until strict new measures were introduced in August.
Since then motorists say they are being hit with £60 fines for driving in and out of the car park if there are no spaces - or parking slightly over the white lines.
One frustrated driver Mark Banner, 58, says he now cycles to the shops fearing he will get another parking charge.
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He was hit with a fine when he parked up to pop into Tesco Express arriving at 12.24pm and leaving at 12.27pm on October 21.
He said: "Because it was full I parked in a place people have been parking for decades. There is room for another car, but no bay."
He added the text on the new signs informing people of the changes is "too small and confusing" to read.
Mark said: "I will take it to court.
"I'm 58 I have been coming here 45 years, supporting the local shops. If I have to pay it I will never use this car park ever again."
In the summer, signs were put up informing drivers of new rules, which included a maximum stay of four hours and no parking between 11.30pm and 5.30am.
Drivers also have to park "within the confines of a single marked parking bay".
Staff at Posh Wash dry cleaning said they had been hit with four tickets which rise to £100 if not paid within 14 days.
A staff member said: "People are getting tickets for no reason, it's ridiculous. We are trying to cancel ours.
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"We wanted a camera because nearby residents were abusing the car park - but we don't want this.
"It is going to affect all our businesses if it is not sorted."
Another trader, who did not want to be named, said: "We have had a lot of people coming in saying they have had tickets.
"One of the rules is you have to go into one of the businesses but people have been fined even though they came in.
"The idea behind it might be a good one but the way it is being applied needs looking at."
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: "It's just a sneaky way of these big parking firms to make more money off us.
"But people are getting tickets for actually following the new rules. It's just not right."
Johnson Fellows, the managing agent for the car park, said: "Car park management was implemented in September 2023 following feedback from the commercial tenants after receiving complaints about the abuse of the car park and customers not being able to park.
"We appointed an accredited operator to ensure the car park is managed efficiently.
"The operator ensures all signage and PCNs are issued in accordance with regulations and offers an online appeal process and further assistance with all PCNs issued."
The Sun Online has contacted UKPS, which manages the car park, for comment.
It comes after a motorist left his car at Manchester Airport's "safe and secure" parking claims it disappeared - with his ordeal lasting a year.
Elsewhere, residents in a small seaside town have slammed tourists for making it one of the UK's most expensive places to park and accused the council of cashing in.
Here's how to appeal against unfair parking charges and get fines struck off.
