'Not for me': Angry motorists slam new parking restrictions at popular service station

OUTRAGE as service station dramatically slashes parking time limit to just 30 minutes - sparking fears of lost custom and chaos for motorists.

Furious locals have slammed the new rules at Creekmoor Service Station, just off the A350 and Holes Bay Roundabout, which means drivers can only park for half an hour before facing a whopping £100 fine.

Automatic number plate recognition technology will be used to enforce the new conditions, which have been labelled "unreasonable" by some.

The move comes after complaints of anti-social behaviour and late gatherings outside the service station, leading to police being called to disperse the crowds.

But angry customers have taken to social media to vent their fury, with one saying: "Thirty minutes is a bit unreasonable for lots of reasons. You will lose a lot of custom."

Another added: "I’ve been there way longer than that, and all I did was clean my car, wait for the air for my tyres, fill up with fuel, then park up to go get a drink and some food. And now I’m expected to remember I might get a ticket and to give my reg number. Nope. Not for me."

Meanwhile, local councillor Judes Butt said she would work to find a "compromise" between the needs of customers and the concerns of local residents.

She said: "The safety of staff at Budgens and that of the community is of the utmost importance. Speaking to my residents we need to find a compromise, so local customers do not suffer because of the ASB Budgens has had to tolerate since the opening of the site.”

Euro Car Parks, which now runs the service station forecourt, has yet to comment on the controversy.