Shoppers are claiming there was not enough warning when a popular retail park changed its rules around parking.

For several years the maximum time people can stay at St Peter’s Wharf Retail Park in Maidstone was three hours.

But on January 6, Euro Car Parks, who manage the site, reduced this to two hours.

The site next to the river, which is home to big brand names including TK Maxx, Hobbycraft, The Range and Asda Living, was reportedly bought by Redevco before Christmas.

A sign at the entrance and posters in the shops advise customers on the change, but it’s not clear when these signs appeared and many argue they are not obvious enough to warn regular shoppers.

Amelia Knott was fined after using the car park on February 12 when out shopping with her two toddlers and heavily pregnant friend.

The 26-year-old said the retail park can be up to a 40-minute drive from her home in Swale.

She said: “I specifically went there for all the shops they have but I won’t go there anymore now.

“It didn’t ever occur to me to look at the sign – apparently they have just changed but there is no sort of bright marker that it has.”

She appealed her fine on February 24 but is still awaiting a response.

Like others who have been affected, she has taken to Facebook to warn people so they also do not get penalised for overstaying.

Cllr Rachel Rodwell (Green) said the issue had come onto her radar because of the “amount of dialogue that is happening on social media” discussing how it has been causing problems.

She said: “I’m concerned as to whether the signage was adequate and how so many people have been caught out.

“I am wondering how clear that was in the early days – was there signage in advance that things were going to change?”

Maxine Payne was hit with a £100 fine after taking her elderly mum and disabled daughter shopping there last month.

She said: “I know it is on us to check these things, but if it’s somewhere you go frequently – we go a couple times a month – you know it’s been three hours for years.

“I think they could have put more signs up or one just as you are about to enter in big red saying ‘This is about to change’.

“As far as I was aware, there was no warning, they just did it.”

The 60-year-old has since been able to appeal her fine after she told Euro Car Parks she had been “genuinely unaware” of the changes and sent a bank statement for proof of purchase.

There are fifteen signs around the site which display the rules around parking. The number two has been taped over with a three on all except one, which still reads “maximum stay of three hours”.

A notice board has also been placed at the site entrance informing customers of the new rules and posters have been put in some shop windows.

It is unclear when the signage was first installed.

According to the British Parking Association, which the car park is regulated by, for any changes “that would not be immediately apparent to a driver entering,” the parking operator must place temporary notices at the entrance for no less than 4 months from the date of the change.

Cllr Rodwell added: “Because you go to the same place all the time, you’re not looking for car parking changes.

“If it's a place we feel comfortable, you know the place, how long you’re going to be there – it can take you by surprise, and I do understand a lot of people have been stung.”

Amellia said: “I didn’t see it [the sign], but every every time I have gone there it is so busy. When you are trying to get in the car park there are so many trying to get out of it there’s normally congestion at the front anyway.”

The traffic issue in the area is another reason people have criticised the new time limit with shoppers slamming it as “not enough”.

Iliyana Vi had gone to the retail park in early February – and despite feeling the signs were clear and taking note of them – she still got fined.

She said: “I was timing my shopping and headed towards my car with 20 minutes remaining.

“I was not able to cross between cars as there were so many. Some of them were trying to park and others to find a parking space. It was manic.

“When I was finally able to reverse back and try to go out, there were so many cars in front of me simply not moving as it was so busy.”

Because of the congestion, Iliyana overstayed by twelve minutes. The grace period that Euro Car Parks allows is ten.

She said: “The letter came a week later or so. I did not appeal as I am a single parent, and I was afraid that if not granted, I would have to pay even more than the original fee.”

Cllr Rodwell said: “Just finding a parking space and circulating around can take time as it is.

“Then the time it takes to get somebody with mobility problems or children out of the vehicle and then going to the shops and getting a coffee or something – it just doesn’t seem long enough.

“The roads around are often gridlocked, and then getting around the car park is almost impossible – and then of course it is people stopping just waiting for a space.”

The Allington councillor continued: “Three hours felt like a time where people could enjoy the amenities and not have to rush and not have the anxiety that they might get a parking ticket.

“For the size of the place, the amount of cars that use it – it just feels like the two-hour limit just isn’t sufficient.”

The new owners of the car park declined to comment on the issue and said it was a matter for Euro Car Parks to deal with.

KentOnline has attempted to make contact with the company, but they have not responded.

Leader of Maidstone council, Cllr Stuart Jeffrey, says he will be writing to them asking to allow drivers some leniency in the early months as shoppers get used to the new rules.

He said: “They are private car parks, and clearly the management companies are free to do that.

“But I think this might be just a little bit short-sighted in terms of the way they've implemented it and the restriction they brought in.”