PEOPLE using the Tesco Extra car park in Stourbridge have been warned not to overstay the two-hour limit while attending shows at the town hall or they will get a parking ticket.

An informal arrangement has been in existence since the superstore and associated car park opened in 2013 after the old Crown Centre council-owned multi-storey car park was blown up in 2012, paving the way for town-changing regeneration works.

A two-hour limit has been in place since 2015, cut down from the original three hours free, but theatregoers attending shows at the town hall, which forms part of the Crown Centre complex, were often given discretionary grace to overstay for the duration of the event they were attending - upon informing management at the store.

Members of the public, however, have been voicing their frustration on social media at receiving parking charge notices after parking in the underground car park to attend a production of Alice in Otherland.

Newly-elected Stourbridge Town councillor Cat Eccles (Labour) said she was recently informed the historic agreement to permit parking for shows has now ended.

She said: "I'm really disappointed this parking facility is no longer available for town hall patrons.

“Parking in the town is already limited, and it makes sense to share the car park seeing as Tesco demolished a former municipal car park to build their store.

“I understand the concerns around the extended parking being abused, but surely this could be solved by taking registration numbers at the town hall.

“It all seems a bit drastic, especially at a time we should be encouraging people back into the town."

Dudley Council has confirmed it has been in talks with Tesco but has stressed the arrangement to use the car park for shows was only ever informal.

Councillor Simon Phipps, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: “This is a private car park and therefore we have no control over how parking is enforced.

“However, for many years we had an informal agreement with Tesco that allowed people attending a show at Stourbridge Town Hall to park for more than two hours.

“This excluded Fridays and Saturdays as it’s their busiest time.

“Tesco have taken the decision to bring this arrangement to an end and we have met with them to discuss the matter further.

“But for now, visitors to the hall will need to find parking in and around the town centre but I can assure them we will continue to look at what alternative parking is available.”

Tesco and car park management company Horizon have been contacted for comment.