THE city council has vowed to review signage in its car parks to make sure visitors aren't left with a bad impression of Exeter.
It comes after two families contacted the Echo to report that an enjoyable day's shopping had turned into a costly and frustrating experience when their cars were locked in after the car park closed.
Motorists using the John Lewis Car Park were charged £30 each to get their cars released after not realising the barriers were shut at 8pm, despite many of the shops staying open late. And they hit out at the "inadequate signage" detailing what time the barriers close.
Ian Ridler, who travelled from Cornwall to shop in the city, described the car park as a "money making trap."
After spending the day shopping and going for a meal the families arrived back at the car park at 8.10pm to find it locked. He said: "My issue is that the signs informing you that the car park closes at 8pm are totally inadequate. None of us saw them until we returned at 8.10pm and the one on the entrance is mixed up with the tariff and ridiculously small. None of us saw these signs.
"I wrote to the council to express my concern and to ask for at least some refund but they were not interested, stating that the signs are adequate and clear and well positioned on the entrance and exit.
"I would add that on exit as a pedestrian they are behind you on a wall and I personally do not walk backwards voluntarily.
"Surely on a day where shops are open late and one is encouraged to dwell in the city and savour the atmosphere then the car parks should at least match these hours.
"The traders in the city have gone the extra mile to raise the atmosphere to get shoppers to part with their money and have done a good job.
"A big thanks to Exeter City Council for spoiling our day. Do the council not realise that it is the traders who will lose out in the long run?"
Garry Wood travelled down from Worcester and also had to pay £30 to have his car released.
He said: "Having heard so many good reports about Exeter's shopping centre, my wife and I travelled from Worcester, a distance of 136 miles, to meet friends to shop and savour the Christmas spirit of the town centre.
"The market at the Cathedral, and shops on the High Street were all open late, encouraging visitors to stay longer and enjoy the atmosphere. We had a lovely day until we returned to our vehicles to find we had been locked in. It was only when we looked for a helpline number, we noticed the total inadequacy of the signage stating the closing time."
Councillor Rosie Denham, Exeter's lead councillor for economy and culture, has promised a review of car park signage in a bid to prevent a repeat of such incidents. She said: "I absolutely understand the feelings of disappointment and frustration – especially when people have come so far for a day out in Exeter. We want to encourage people to come to the city, enjoy the experience and stay into the evening.
"We're working hard to make sure visitors have a great experience when they come to Exeter and we take it to heart when they don't, so we will now go away and have a good look at the policy and signage in the John Lewis car park, as indeed we are doing across all our car parks as part of a major review."
