Criticism over car park fines for Lincoln shoppers

The Tritton Road Retail Park in Lincoln has signs saying parking is from 06:45 until 20:00

Drivers have criticised the owners of a Lincoln retail park after they were fined for parking while the shops were open.

The Tritton Road Retail Park does not allow parking past 20:00, despite some of the shops shutting at 22:00.

One women said she received a £60 fine after visiting a store one evening.

Savills, which manages the site, said it would be extending the hours until 22:00 and drivers who had been fined should contact the parking company.

Katie Flower, 24, from Lincoln said she received a £60 fine through the post a couple of days after visiting a toy shop.

Ms Flower said she arrived at 19:30 GMT and spent an hour in the car park.

"I thought it was silly the fact the shop is open until 21:00 but the parking ends at 20:00," she said.

"We were just shopping; it was not like we were on double yellow lines. We were at the shopping centre to shop,"

"A lot of people are going to be going to that retail park for Christmas shopping. It is going to be a problem," she added.

Katie Flower received a £60 after visiting a toy shop at the shopping centre

Savills said it had been "made aware of issues with parking fines over the last few weeks and are working with the landlord and UKPC Parking to rectify any fines issued in error."

The company said that the current signs, which show drivers can park from 06:45 until 20:00, are being updated to say parking would be free until 22:00.

Drivers would not be fined in the period before the signs are changed on 6 December, they added.

The BBC has contacted UK Parking Control for a response.