PARKING fines issued and then cancelled at a shopping centre car park have prompted a change in enforcement following a wave of complaints from dissatisfied motorists.

Castle Point Council’s cabinet has backed plans to switch car park operator at the Knightswick shopping centre on Canvey, where parking for one hour is just 30p.

The cabinet decided to transfer the management car parking from private firm Smart Parking to Chelmsford City Council, which already enforces parking in the borough.

Councillors were told motorists had become “dissatisfied” with the parking regime and figures showed 690 penalty charge notices had been raised until June 27 this year, but there were 155 appeals, resulting in 42 cancellations.

Michael Fuller, Castle Point councillor responsible for environment, said: “Residents have voiced concerns in relation to the fairness of the parking regime at the Knightswick and the number of fines which were issued and later had to be cancelled.

“In this instance, we have listened to what we were being told about the way parking enforcement at Knightswick was being operated and, owing to the current parking enforcement contract coming to an end, have been able to act swiftly to address this.

“Clearly, ensuring successful income generation from our off-street parking is important, but as is responding to residents’ concerns.

“As an administration, we promised we would listen to residents and ensure the council is run in their best interests.”

Castle Point Council bought the shopping centre and its car park five years ago and the car park was managed via pay and display machines, which were ditched in October, 2019 which caused a “significant number” of people not paying. In November 2020 the council’s agent for the centre, Montagu Evans, engaged the firm to operate the car park using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

Under the new plans, pay and display machines will be rolled out once again alongside strong enforcement patrols to ensure people pay.

There will also now be a review of the cost of parking at the car park.

Barry Campagna, Canvey Island South independent party ward councillor, said: “We have got to pay for parking.

“The reason no one was paying is due to the cheapness.

“With the new changes, I think we will see a better system in place, and the enforcement patrols will make people pay.”