Some of the businesses surrounding a private car park where ANPR cameras are in operation say they have seen a drop in customers.

The new rules now ban customers from parking their vehicles and then leaving the leisure park area.

It has been enforced since Monday, August 19 after the French company Iroko Zen bought St Stephen’s Place Leisure Park for £11.37 million.

New automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed before the announcement but it is not clear if the new company is behind the idea.

But staff at the Italian restaurant Prezzo and the nearby Valeroso Lounge café bar have now reported that their lunchtime trade is being hit.

READ MORE: Drivers urged to 'boycott' Trowbridge car park over new cameras

Staff at Prezzo say that footfall has dropped since the new parking regulations came into effect in August.Staff at Prezzo say that footfall has dropped since the new parking regulations came into effect in August. (Image: Trevor Porter)

An assistant manager at Prezzo, who does not wish to be named, said: “One of my colleagues has been fined four or five times for breaching the new parking regulations.

“Before they were introduced it was much busier than it is now. Everyone is worried about the parking regulations.

“The car park is now quite empty during the day. I think trade has dropped a little bit, especially at lunchtime.”

Sean Ford, one of the chefs at the Valeroso Lounge, said customers who used to use the car park during the day are now avoiding the area.

“Footfall has dropped off a little bit because some people don’t understand the new regulations.”

Sean Ford, one of the chefs at the Valeroso Lounge café bar, says some customers are now avoiding the area.Sean Ford, one of the chefs at the Valeroso Lounge café bar, says some customers are now avoiding the area. (Image: John Baker)

At Frankie & Benny’s, assistant manager Joao Afonso has already paid out £155 after receiving two PCNs from car park manager UK Parking Control Ltd since the new regulations were introduced.

SEE ALSO: Driver ‘fined’ for leaving St Stephen’s Place leisure park car park

“They are still new and people are trying to adjust. I have been charged twice, once for parking out front and the other at the rear on a Sunday.”

Joao Afonso, assistant manager of Frankie & Benny's, has already paid out £155 for two parking charge notices.Joao Afonso, assistant manager of Frankie & Benny's, has already paid out £155 for two parking charge notices. (Image: John Baker)

The big food chains Nando’s and Wagamama said most of their trade is in the evening after 5pm when the new parking regulations do not apply.

A customer who was charged for leaving the site three weeks ago to use a cashpoint says she has successfully appealed the £100 parking charge notice she received.

Aga Michalik said UKPC cancelled the PCN after she explained she had only left the car park to get cash from the Nationwide Building Society for the ticket machine.

“When I returned, I paid for parking and then my husband Mircin and I took our children to the Valeroso Lounge to get something to eat.”

Leisure park manager Knight Frank and UKPC have been approached for a comment.