A SOUTHAMPTON leisure centre has made a parking ticket U-turn after angry drivers hit out.

Users of Bitterne Leisure Centre have been hit with £60 fines since the introduction of a new parking scheme.

The system requires those using the centre to log their vehicle registration on an touch terminal in reception.

However, many members were not informed about the new system and therefore have incurred a fine.

Geoff Butt, 70, said: “My wife has been coming to this leisure centre for 20 years and we have never had an issue with parking up until now.

“She was not told about the new system and there weren’t signs up, so she didn’t log her registration on the touch system.

“I was appalled when I received the fine in the post.

“The centre manager has said we don’t have to pay it, but this should not have happened in the first place.”

Pav Buchnowski, the centre manager said: “We had to introduce this system because so many people were using our car park but not using our facilities. It was getting ridiculous. Many of our users were missing classes they had booked because they had nowhere to park.”

Active Nation, which runs the leisure centre, told the Daily Echo that the system was set up to support their users and that they have received an overwhelming amount of positivity about it.

They said: “We appreciate with any change there is a process of integration of a new system and to assist this all supporters with an email address were written to, social media platforms were updated, signage was added internally and externally as well as staff members informing our supporters in the lead up to and during its introduction.

“During the first seven days of the new system Active Nation also had a staff member present outside talking to car drivers as they entered the car park informing of the change.

“Any supporters who have received a parking ticket during this initial introduction phase we are liaising with and supporting the withdrawal of the fine with our parking partner. “

Jason Nettle, 39, said:” The new signs in the car park need to be a lot clearer than they are. “I feel sorry for those members that have been falsely charged.”