TESCO has said shoppers at its Stourbridge superstore have been finding it difficult to get parking spaces after it emerged a goodwill gesture of extended parking for town hall users has been scrapped.

Theatregoers have told of receiving parking tickets for overstaying the two-hour limit on the Tesco Extra car park while attending shows at the town hall, which shares the Crown Centre with the supermarket.

Previously a goodwill arrangement had been in place allowing people attending Stourbridge Town Hall shows to park for more than two hours.

But the agreement has ended after nine years, Dudley Council has confirmed.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “Shoppers at our Stourbridge Extra store have told us for some that they have found can find it difficult to find parking spaces which is why we operate a two-hour parking limit.

“We also offer extended parking to local business owners and to staff at the town hall including those running events and productions.”

Tesco confirmed the store site including the car park are leased from Dudley Council and that Horizon manages the car park on behalf of Tesco.

Council bosses say they have met with Tesco chiefs to discuss the matter and they said they would continue to look at alternative parking options.

Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley’s cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, however, said the council has no control over how parking on the carpark is enforced and he urged town hall visitors to find parking elsewhere in and around the town.