DRIVERS could be eligible for refunds amounting to tens of thousands of pounds because of “misleading” signs at an unpopular car park.

Outraged shoppers have received £60 fines for staying at Ravensdale car park, off North Road in Great Clacton.

Signs with large lettering advertise it being free for three hours but small print instructs people to type in their car registration number to be eligible.

Scores of residents are accusing management company Smart Parking of taking advantage of customers.

Tim Thomas, owner of Hoop Haircutters, is one of those liaising with Smart Parking and landlord Joel Rothbart.

He said: “Businesses are being affected big time. Anytime Fitness customers have had over 300 penalties and our guess is there have been at least 1,000 penalty notices issued.

“Our clients have even expressed anger at us because they thought we were responsible.

“I had seven posters made which cost £500 warning people. They were placed all around the area and even right next to the meter but were pulled down. I’m doing absolutely everything I can to stop this.

“The signs are very cleverly done and misleading.”

Nicola Smith’s 72-year-old mum is one of the victims. She was visiting a friend at Abbey Nursing Home for 45 minutes when she later had a fine in the post.

Mrs Smith, of Holland-on-Sea, is “distraught” about the impact the worn signs are having on vulnerable people.

She said: “If you’re an older person or partially sighted, you’re not going to notice the asterisk.

“Customers will boycott the car park and as a result the shops will be affected.”

With help from businesses, landlord Joel Rothbart sought to have a list drawn up in April with the car registrations of exempt employees.

He admits he does not know what went wrong but there are 30-plus retailers on it.

He said: “There are some people who definitely shouldn’t have got tickets and should they contest it, they will be reimbursed. I will make sure it happens.

“We need to improve the system as owners. The car park should be for the benefit of shoppers.

Smart Parking claims its 35 signs across the car park are above the size required by the British Parking Association.

A spokesman added: “Smart Parking was brought into manage the car park to insure all people are treated equally and many thousands of motorists use the car park every week without issues.

“We are members of the BPA and follow its guidelines strictly.

“When parking on private land we would remind motorists to always read the terms and conditions of use before deciding to park.”