CONCERNS have been raised over the impact parking fines are having on businesses at a Wrexham retail park.

Last week, Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths provided an update following her calls for improvements to be made at the Island Green car park.

She said of Euro Car Parks - who manage the site's car park - 'conduct remains a concern' but added that there was a 'glimmer of hope' with some constituents 'receiving refunds and having their parking tickets cancelled.'

However, since the Leader published that article on March 7, residents have been getting in touch with us to share their experiences - and raise concerns that the fines could be having an impact on trade at the retail park.

The site is home to several large retailers, including Wilko and even the Wrexham Central train station.

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Issues surrounding parking fines have been ongoing for a number of years on site.

Thelma Keegan, from Caergwrle, says she was 'wrongfully charged' during a visit a few months back.

She added that when she paid for her 2-hour ticket at the machine, the last few digits of her number plate did not show up on the ticket.

This was a particular problem as Island Green uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to read number plates as cars enter and exit the car park.

Thelma claims that she stayed at the car park for just an hour-and-a-half of the allocated two-hour slot she had paid £1.30 for - but was faced with a fine around ten weeks later.

She said: "They (Euro Car Parks) have made it as hard as possible to complain to them about this, if people don't have internet then it's virtually impossible to do so.

"It took my husband and my daughter to help me to get a complaint sorted. In the end, I paid the £50 fine, and after then also complaining Euro Car Parks told me that they would give me £30 of that back and keep the other £20 to cover the admin.

"So I'm still having to pay £20 for what was their mistake, I know that I put the digits in right but they just didn't show up on my ticket. Taking the £20 is just adding insult to injury."

Thelma added: "My reaction, and many others I'm sure to this would be to boycott the carpark. But, then what effect is that going to have on the business on Island Green?

"Euro Car Parks need to get their act together here."

Another resident from Wrexham, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Leader that they had received a fine at Island Green over the Christmas period.

This was during the 'only time' they had gone out recently due to having 'suffered with ill health'.

The resident said: "The first few digits of my number plate did not show on my ticket and I was given a fine weeks later as a result of that.

"I wrote to Euro Car Parks to tell them I thought they had a dodgy machine and they wrote back saying they didn't believe my story.

"They made me feel like a criminal or a thief with a response like that. This is a real scam.

"It's only by luck that I managed to then find my ticket again and am now going through an appeal process.

"I won't go back to Island Green now, this has put me off, but I do feel really sorry for the businesses there as they will obviously be affected."

Euro Car Parks has been approached for comment in response to the claims made.