THOUSANDS of shoppers have received parking fines from cameras set up without permission.

Smart Parking UK has been accused of issuing fines after installing automatic number plate recognition cameras they did not have permission for in the Westgate shopping centre car park in July.

The company has only just applied for planning permission but that has not stopped thousands of people being given fines already.

An application to “retain” two cameras plus six pay and display parking machines on the site will now be decided on by Basildon Council.

The revelation comes just days after Thurrock and Basildon MPs Stephen Metcalfe and John Baron called on Smart Parking to issue refunds of all profits made by the company from parking fines between July and November this year, following claims the signs were confusing.

Smart Parking has received a huge amount of criticism since introducing the ANPR cameras with residents and shoppers claiming to have been fined despite paying for parking and the payment machines not working correctly.

Basildon councillor Kerry Smith, of Nethermayne Ward, questioned whether the fines issued in the last few months could be challenged legally.

He said: “I have spent a lot of time investigating the background and legalities of the parking fines issued by Smart Parking at the Westgate car park

“The ANPR camera was installed some months ago and a planning application was not submitted until November 26.

“It is therefore possible that fines issued using information from this ANPR system may be legally suspect.

“With it being claimed some two thousand fines per month have been issued since the installation of the ANPR system, would it be worth a local solicitor investigating the possibility of taking out a class action on behalf of all of the aggrieved motorists.”

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “The enforcement of fines is a civil matter between the car park operator and individuals. A planning application has been received and will be determined within statutory timescales of eight weeks from the date of validation. “

A spokesman for Smart Parking said: “Smart Parking are one of the UK’s leading parking management businesses, and we operate hundreds of car parks across the UK. We have managed the Westgate Centre car park since 2012, but earlier this year we upgraded the parking management system to counter increased parking abuse and to ensure all motorists are treated equally and fairly.

“We are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) and strictly follow its guidelines, which was reiterated by a recent site visit by the BPA to the Westgate Centre.”

The company is considering the request by the MPs regarding the parking fines.