FURIOUS shoppers have blasted new parking rules at a Newton Abbot town centre supermarket.

Asda has recently introduced a new two-hour time limit on the car park at Highweek Street.

And the newly-erected signage says the car park is for shop customers use only.

Previously the car park had been a three hour limit and could be used by shoppers visiting both the supermarket and other town centre businesses.

Now Teignbridge Council’s legal team is checking the original planning agreement about use of the car park.

It is understood when the store was first built, there was an agreement that the parking would be available for all town centre shoppers and visitors and not solely for Asda customers.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: ‘We are aware of some concerns over changes to the Asda car park in Newton Abbot.

‘Our legal team are reviewing the original agreement, and we will respond to local stakeholders and interested parties in due course.’

Complaints have been flooding in from shoppers.

Newton Abbot Town Council says it is ‘keen’ to see parking is retained within the town centre on the terms originally agreed between Asda and the district authority.

A spokesman said: ‘Whilst we have no power in this matter we will continue to monitor the situation closely and to apply pressure in any way we can.’

But the situation appears ambiguous as Asda itself said there was no change to the formal arrangements whereby customers were free to do as they wished as long as they shopped in the store and remained within the two hour time limit.

A spokesman said: ‘We have a two-hour free parking limit in place at our Newton Abbot store to help ensure that parking spaces remain available for customers visiting the store.’

However, the signage by parking firm Parking Eye clearly states it is for ‘store use only’.

ANPR cameras have been installed in the last few weeks.

Customer Dianne Pickett pointed out there had been free parking for three hours for several years.

She said: ‘This has encouraged people to shop at ASDA and increase trade in the town which is much needed, as like many other towns, shops are suffering.

‘After shopping in ASDA, people like myself, like to then go into town and use the shops, hair salons, market, charity shops, and our unique Austins department store.

‘Now, there is a new signboard from Parkingeye which you need a ladder to read in full, saying that there is a maximum of two hours parking in the ASDA car park and it’s for use only whilst shopping in store.

‘This is disastrous for the town.

'Few people will just want to do their shopping in ASDA and fewer still will want to spend two hours there.

‘Apparently if people do not comply with the new terms they can be fined £100.

‘This is truly an appalling message to shoppers and the people of Newton Abbot and will probably affect trade.

‘Please could you reconsider this new ruling, or at least make it clear that if someone shops in Asda they can still shop in the town as well within two hours of free parking.’