Aberystwyth residents are “falling out over parking spaces” as the “long-standing problem” is exacerbated by coronavirus pandemic measures, a county councillor has said, as fears are raised that the situation could get worse as a retail park in the town slashes its parking time limit.

Last week, supermarket chain Lidl - which owns the freehold of the Rheidol retail park and has recently begun work on an expanded store on the site - reduced the parking time limit for shoppers by half an hour.

The changes, which will be overseen by operators Parking Eye, will now see shoppers on the retail park - which also houses an Argos store - allowed to stay for 90 minutes, down from a previous limit of two hours.

Staying longer will attract a £90 fine, new signs erected on the retail park last week outline.

Residents have complained about the new limits, with concerns for elderly and disabled shoppers being able to park up, shop and leave the car park before the time limit expires.

Aberystwyth central ward councillor Ceredig Davies said that the reduction in parking time limit at the town centre site would impact further on a “long-standing problem.”

“Lidl are the owners of the Rheidol Retail Park and the terms of use for the car park is a matter for them,” Cllr Davies said.

“There would have seen high demand for parking during the summer and not all of it from their customers, this along with a smaller parking area due to the construction of their new shop, hence probably the reduced time limit.

“Their parking enforcement regime is strict and the Cambrian News [highlighting the new limit] will go a long way in publishing the reduced time.

“The unintended consequences of the reduced parking in the town centre due to the safe zones would also be a contributory factor, with people parking in Lidl car park as against half an hour on a town centre street.”

Cllr Davies said that more now needs to be done to ensure that parking problems in Aberystwyth don’t get worse, and called for a long-mooted review to take place.

“Parking in the town has been a long standing problem which has only got worse over the last 18 months,” he told the Cambrian News.

“It has got to a situation where residents are falling out over parking spaces.”

“A parking review was promised once the Tesco and Marks and Spencer car park was up and running. “Five years on and the people of Aberystwyth are still waiting for that review.”

Lidl had not responded for comment at the time of going to press.