Shrewsbury cinema-goers hit by parking ticket bomb after watching nuclear blockbuster Oppenheimer

A sign at the entrance to the retail park, which also contains a Harvester pub and a Nando's as well as the Cineworld cinema, says people using it are entitled to five hours of free parking. But it also refers to other signs which mention the 11pm cut-off and 'how to extend your stay'.

Other signs in the car park refer to a way of staying there free for longer than five hours and after the 11pm buffer is hit.

Even though five hours of free parking are allowed on the retail park site, that comes to an end at 11pm, when drivers are only allowed 10 minutes. Showings of the three-hour-plus Oppenheimer which start after 8pm automatically hit the 11pm buffers.

At least two people who have seen Oppenheimer have received parking charge notices of £100, which can be reduced to £60 if paid quickly. Neither were aware of being able to get the limit extended by using consoles in Cineworld.

Geoff Smethills from Bayston Hill decided to go and see the Christopher Nolan-directed biopic on July 25 with his wife.

The 59-year-old said he was a regular visitor to the multiplex in Old Potts Way, and parked out the front as usual.

"We go there quite often, maybe once a month and always park out the front."

After going to watch the three-hour blockbuster, Mr Smethills says he was shocked to discover a parking ticket on his windscreen.

"Oppenheimer is a three hours long and I had stayed three hours and 37 minutes according to the ticket," he said.

He said the parking ticket, from Euro Car Parks, which runs the car park, was for £100, reduced to £60 if paid within two weeks.

"I spoke to Cineworld and they said the car park is not run by them but by Euro Car Parks.

"I'm sure there is a sign somewhere in the car park, but it is not something you would normally look for or think about.

"I just think it is silly. Either they put the limit up to four hours to cover all films, or Cineworld should warn people."

Paul Rumbold, also of Bayston Hill, said he went to see the film with his partner and son on July 23 and "did not see any signs" to warn him of the danger.

"I feel that they have set a trap for a mouse," said Mr Rumbold. "It's not very customer-friendly and I feel trapped into paying this fee.

"There is no information about extending your stay. I would have got up to move my car if I'd have known.

"We have appealed this charge, I think it is a Gestapo law. I would rather live in a Soviet country than have this kind of trick. My grandfather fought in the war for us to be free from this kind of thing."

A spokesperson for Cineworld reminded customers that if they wished to extend their stays they should enter details into a tablet inside the cinema.

The spokesperson said: "Customers at Cineworld Shrewsbury wishing to use the nearby car park for longer than five hours or beyond 11pm can do so by validating their parking.

"Visitors should enter their registration details and proof of ticket purchase into one of the tablets located inside the cinema.

"Full information on parking restrictions can be found on the signs located across the cinema. The car park operator, Euro Car Parks, also provides signs detailing the restrictions. Customers with issues validating their parking while visiting us can speak to our staff for further assistance.”

After being contacted by the Shropshire Star the company that manages the site says it will talk to the company that manages its parking to "resolve the situation."

The site managers are the giant real estate company CBRE.

A statement from the company said CBRE manages the retail park off Old Potts Way, which includes the Cineworld cinema, three restaurants and the car park.

A spokesperson said: "Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

"We will liaise with the cinema and the parking operator about the parking hours in order to resolve this."