RETAILERS at Chester Retail Park are unhappy with parking restrictions after scores of customers complained about being charged.

In the three months since the parking restrictions were introduced, stores have had two or three angry customers a week demanding to know why they have been told to pay for their parking.

A spokesman for Tesco Home Plus, one of the biggest stores on the site, said: “The parking restrictions haven’t had any impact on trade and the store continues to trade extremely well.”

However, a member of staff at the store, who preferred not to be named, said: “From a customer service point of view some of the stores are unhappy because of having to deal with these complaints.

“We’re getting two or three a week now but all we can do is to tell them to write to the parking company and appeal.”

A spokesman for Savills, acting on behalf of site owners Consolidated Property Group, said parking restrictions had been in place since February 1.

“The three-hour maximum parking restrictions are displayed clearly throughout the park and have been enforced via a camera system that records vehicle entry and departure times at Chester Retail Park.

“The restrictions are necessary to avoid the free three hour car park facilities being misused by visitors not shopping at the scheme. All fines issued at the park clearly display the appeal process, which is managed by ParkingEye.

“The management continually reviews all operations aspects of the park and as part of this on-going process takes into account all customer feedback.

Consolidated Property Group declined to comment.