NEIGHBOURING businesses in Astley Bridge are to share the £6,000 cost of a new car park to prevent their customers being charged up to £100 for parking their vehicles.

The Pavilion Indian Restaurant and Comms Consult have joined forces after a string of their visitors received demands for £100 — £60 if paid in within two weeks — for parking at the retail outlet housing The Range, Topps Tiles and Jolleyes.

The back of the two Blackburn Road businesses back on to Holland Street, next to the retail park where until six months ago many of their customers parked without penalty.

Work on their new car park behind the businesses will start in January. Local businessman David Chadwick, who received a “parking charge notice”, has hit out at the penalty.

The notice of the charge came from ParkingEye, a Chorley-based car firm operating on behalf of The Range, which photographed Mr Chadwick’s car while he was visiting the Pavilion.

“I was going to meet a friend for a meal at the Pavilion and the car park outside The Range, Topps Tiles and Jolleyes was virtually empty,” said the 54-year-old public relations consultant.

“I thought it would be fine to park there, especially as I’ve been a recent and frequent customer of all three of those stores. I didn’t see any sign saying I couldn’t park.

“So I was shocked and infuriated a week later when I received the demand. That was double the cost of my curry. I will not go to The Range again.”

Pavilion manager Jay Faruk says at least 15 of his customers had been fined.

“Our customers parked their regularly with no problem until about six months ago,” he said.

“We are aiming to provide about 20 spaces.”

Mr Geoff Bateson, managing director of neighbouring business Comms Consult, added: “Providing our own car park was the only alternative. It was bad for business having people charged like that.” A spokesman for ParkingEye said: “We were brought in to manage the car park at The Range as there was a serious problem of motorists parking there but using other facilities.

“The car park is monitored 24 hours a day to prevent such abuse, as well as any potential anti-social behaviour.

“All Range customers get two hours of free parking within store opening hours and there are 29 signs across the car park which clearly detail the terms and conditions of use.

“The vast majority of motorists follow these rules.

“It is clearly signposted that you cannot use the car park outside of the opening hours.

“Mr Chadwick left his vehicle outside these timestherefore he received a charge.”