Anger at Telford store's £100 parking fines - even when it is shut

Wilkinsons in Wellington has brought in new Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and £100 fines are being dished out to anyone parked on there for longer than two hours.

It is one of the biggest car parks in the town and people have complained of being caught out by the changes at night when the signs are not clearly visible.

One irate resident, Nicholas Wheeler, from Shawbirch in Telford, has written to Wellington Town Council to call for action to be taken after "overstaying his welcome by 22 minutes".

In his letter, which was circulated to members at a meeting of the full council at Wellington Civic Offices this week, he said the private company offering the car park had offered him a discount of £40 if he settled up within 14 days.

"It would appear that my business in not wanted in Wellington," the letter says.

"I am not encouraged to spend any length of time there and support local tradesmen and women.

"In fact, if I overstay my welcome I am to be fined an exorbitant amount of money.

"In the future I will be doing my shopping elsewhere."

Wellington mayor Councillor Phil Morris-Jones said as the car park was on private land and was not operated by the council, there were limits as to what the authority could do.

But he pledged to write to the store to make them aware of the complaints, and to call for improved lighting and signage at night.

Councillor Karen Tomlinson said she had been bombarded by people complaining about the car park and the fines.

"Even though it is a private car park, it is an obscene amount of money," she said.

"It is a ridiculous amount of money that is being charged and it is putting people off.

"At night you can't see the signs and people don't know it has changed. People are going to the restaurant, I had a friend going to church who parked there and got fined and was very upset about it."

Councillor Lee Carter suggested there should be a section on the council's new website making it clear where people could park for free in the town centre.

The council is currently discussing introducing ticketing machines on its free car parks in a bid to stop people parking there all day.