DISGRUNTLED shoppers are urging Tesco to rethink its plan to cut free parking from three hours down to two on the carpark at its 24-hour Stourbridge superstore.

Supermarket bosses have announced they will only be offering two hours of free parking on the underground carpark attached to the Crown Centre store - from Monday June 22.

They hope reducing the time limit will free up spaces, particularly on busy Saturdays when people flock to use the free facility when heading into town or to visit the nearby Crystal Leisure Centre.

But concerned customers have accused Tesco of reneging on its goodwill gesture of offering three hours free parking after the town's public multi-storey car park had to be demolished to make way for the new Extra store.

Shopper Racheal Smith said she easily uses up three hours to shop in town, have a cup of coffee and then visit Tesco before the time limit is up but she added: "With two hours I just won't be able to do it. I spend a fortune in there but if I'm going to run out of time I won't be able to go in."

Another shopper, who did not wish to be named, said Tesco needs to "think again" and added: "I feel this will drive shoppers away to other local shops which offer free unrestricted car-parking."

A spokesman for Tesco, however, said: "Customers have been telling us for sometime they find the current car park arrangements inadequate.

"After listening to their feedback we are reducing the amount of time our car park is free to use to encourage those using the car park for the leisure centre to seek alternative places to park."

Stourbridge councillor Nic Barlow said he was "disappointed" about the plan but he added: "I understand the reasoning behind it.

"There has been quite a lot of abuse of the time limit by people going to the leisure centre and not using Tesco and ultimately it's a carpark for the use of Tesco customers. It was inevitable.

"We've been very fortunate to have the three hours in Stourbridge. There are very few car parks within Dudley that have three hours free parking.

"I don't think losing that here is going to have a huge impact on the town centre. We've got the Ryemarket car park."

Stourbridge MP Margot James said she had spoken to Tesco bosses about the change but added: "There was nothing I could do about it.

"It's a great shame. It's been a real boost to the town having three hours free parking. For a decent number of people it will be a bit of a blow."

She said she didn't think the move would generate extra footfall for Tesco, adding: "I don't think it will do them any good."

But she conceded: "I think we had three hours for a longer time than most of their stores have. Two hours is still quite a good amount of time to visit shops and have a cup of coffee. It just makes it a bit less likely that people will do that."

Tesco's spokesman said the supermarket continually reviews free parking arrangements at its stores.

Meanwhile Ms James is urging Dudley Council to trial free parking on the run-down Ryemarket car park.

She said: "It's in a very poor state of repair - it's almost a cheek to charge people to park there. It would be very convenient if that could be freed up."