Donna B’s, Mr Chips and Chapples Autos express concerns over business following impact of carparking rules at Northgate Retail Park, Newark

The owner of a café near a retail park says the businesses opposite should be included in its free three-hour parking rule.

Northgate Retail Park, Newark, has introduced new restrictions, limiting shoppers to three hours’ parking and not leaving the park to shop elsewhere.

Donna Broadley said there had been a rise in people being fined for parking at the retail park, doing a bit of shopping there, and then leaving the site to visit the shops over the road on Northgate — including her café Donna B’s, Mr Chips and Chapples Autos.

Donna, who opened her business 17 years ago and would like to stay for at least another ten, said it had never been a problem for people to park in the retail carpark and walk elsewhere until the Marks and Spencer Foodhall opened last month.

While speaking to the Advertiser about the newly-enforced rules by UK Parking Control (UKPC) Donna said she saw someone pull up outside her café, see there was no street parking, and then leave.

“I’m actually losing business over this,” said Donna.

“Now people are being fined for leaving the retail park and they have put double yellows outside my shop, so where are my customers supposed to park?

“People are being penalised and fined for going to Boots and coming over the road to me for a bacon sandwich while they wait for their prescription, and it’s only a matter of 20 minutes.

“If you’re parking for more than three hours — I get it, that’s not allowed, but we’re all close and a like a little community.”

And it’s not just Donna’s livelihood claiming to be under threat.

The Coffee Chain at Warwick Brewery on Northgate — between the retail park and the new M&S Foodhall — said it had seen a notable rise in customers being fined for parking in Northgate Retail Park and then leaving on foot to go elsewhere.

There is a separate carpark at the front of Warwick Brewery for customers wanting to use The Coffee Chain and other businesses there, including Arena Health and Fitness and The Beautique.

Donna said: “Now people are parking outside my shop I cannot get access to my bin.

“Someone said they would take the rubbish away for me and then dumped it in the Hoval carpark — we had to pick it up on our hands and knees.

“I just don’t get it, no one is going to take their car to each different carpark — people like a walkabout.

“I think they’ve done this because of M&S and all it is doing is turning people away, I’ve lost customers.”

Signs at the Northgate Retail Park state vehicles may park for a maximum of three hours and that those drivers must remain on site throughout.

UK Parking Control Ltd (UKPC) which operates the carpark, has been approached for comment.

Have you been issued a fine after parking in Northgate Retail Park? Get in touch at a.hunt@newarkadvertiser.co.uk