Frodsham Town Council has written to the operator of Eddisbury Square car park voicing its fears that the scheme is ‘stifling trade’ in the town.

It came under fire at the last council meeting, one year since controversial restrictions were brought in at the free, privately-owned car park.

Twenty-four hour conditions including a maximum two-hour stay, no return within two hours and that drivers parking there should not walk off-site were imposed in January 2014.

Following complaints from the community, Mason Partners – the retained letting agents for the retail development – took action and amended the two-hour maximum stay to apply to vehicles only, removed the no return withing two hours restriction and reduced the enforcement hours to 8am to 6.30pm.

But now there are concerns that the cameras are failing to take into account cars which enter and leave on more than one occasion in one day.

Cllr Sara Wakefield said that the issue had ‘reared its head again’ and that local businesses had asked her to bring it before the council.

She said: “There seems to be a lot more people being sent charge notices for parking in Eddisbury Square for more than two hours when in fact they have not - they may have popped in twice during the day and it has just taken the first picture and the last picture of them leaving, not in between.

“Quite a lot of people are not arguing, they are just paying and then apparently saying that they are not coming back into Frodsham to shop.”

Cllr Andrew Dawson described the scheme as potentially ‘counter-productive’ if people are deterred from shopping in Frodsham.

He said: “Whilst I know some of the tenants have said how marvellous it is because there is now free-flowing car parking, there are issues with going in and out of the car park two or three times in a day.”

Councillors agreed to chairman Mark Warren’s suggestion that they should write a letter to operator UKCPS expressing concerns that the scheme is ‘stifling trade and putting people off trading in Frodsham’.

UKCPS manager Peter Haswell told the Chronicle: “We are aware it has been a problem and we have made adjustments to the camera settings. We will look at any appeal favourably.”

Lee Randle, of Mason Partners, explained that the landlords of the shopping centre are ‘committed to retaining free parking for all shoppers visiting Eddisbury Square while also preventing the blocking of spaces caused by long stay parking’.

He said of the current arrangement: “It should prevent any problems caused by cars entering and leaving on more than one occasion during the same day, and where past errors have occurred and brought to our clients’ attention, fines have been rescinded or refunded.”

Mr Randle added that several new occupiers – including Sainsbury’s and Cherry Bomb – have opened within the centre following the introduction of car park management and refurbishment works have begun at the former Blockbuster unit.

“Works to create three new first floor flats are also due to commence this month, underlying our client’s ongoing investment programme to further improve the Eddisbury Square Shopping Centre,” he said.