COMMUTERS are fuming after forking out hundreds of pounds for a parking permit - and failing to find a space.

Scores of people have paid £330 for an annual permit for Chatham railway station's car parks. But several motorists say they cannot find any free spaces after 8am.

Having already paid out for their permit, many have been forced to park in non-designated areas only to have their vehicle clamped and charged a £50 release fee.

The company which manages the station car parks, Central Parking System (CPS), admits the 180-space permit holders' car park is oversubscribed by 23 permits but says it is normal practice to do so and a permit does not guarantee a space.

Permit holders are allowed to park in a 100-space pay-and-display car park but, the spokesman said, there had been a increased demand as more commuters were using Chatham station while repairs had put Strood Tunnel out of action.

But many angry commuters say that is rubbish and that the problem only arose after the company took over from Connex last November.

Angie Stone, 29, of St Mary's Island, said the problem started when one of the permit holders' car parks was removed.

"There used to be two car parks for permit holders only before 9.30am, but when CPS took over they changed one to a pay and display.

"If you try to park your car after 8am in the permit holders' one, you just can't get a space. Then you try to park in the pay and display only to find that full, too," she said.

Many other motorists back up her claim. This newspaper has seen 15 letters from other commuters with similar concerns.

Jennifer Hill, of Walderslade, said: "They say the £330 a year does not guarantee you a space, so what exactly are we paying for?

"It's a complete joke. It was never like this when Connex ran it."

Miss Stone also claims that when her car was clamped, a CPS atten-dant told her that 10 other permit holders had been clamped that day.

She said: "The company earned an extra £500 that day."

CPS said increased demand on spaces had arisen since the closure of Strood Tunnel, and it was unlikely to ease until it re-opened next January.

The spokesman added: "We have had no representation from our customers on this matter until now.

"Having a season ticket does not guarantee a space, but offers a level of priority that is achieved the majority of the time. It is unfortunate that some of our customers have had difficulty parking, but we would ask them to bear with it in what is a temporary situation."