Shrewsbury cinema-goers hit by parking ticket bomb after watching nuclear blockbuster Oppenheimer
Film fans say that going to see a film about a nuclear scientist in their local cinema have cost them a bomb in parking charges.
At least two Shrewsbury cinema-goers have been caught out by parking rules on the retail park off Old Potts Way which has a cut-off point for free parking of 11pm.
A sign at the entrance to the retail park, which also contains a Harvester pub and a Nando's as well as the Cineworld cinema, says people using it are entitled to five hours of free parking. But it also refers to other signs which mention the 11pm cut-off and 'how to extend your stay'.
Other signs in the car park refer to a way of staying there free for longer than five hours and after the 11pm buffer is hit.
Even though five hours of free parking are allowed on the retail park site, that comes to an end at 11pm, when drivers are only allowed 10 minutes. Showings of the three-hour-plus Oppenheimer which start after 8pm automatically hit the 11pm buffers.
At least two people who have seen Oppenheimer have received parking charge notices of £100, which can be reduced to £60 if paid quickly. Neither were aware of being able to get the limit extended by using consoles in Cineworld.
Geoff Smethills from Bayston Hill decided to go and see the Christopher Nolan-directed biopic on July 25 with his wife.
The 59-year-old said he was a regular visitor to the multiplex in Old Potts Way, and parked out the front as usual.
