Brentwood Council has said it will resolve issues at a multi-storey car park after a meeting heard new automatic gates have caused many people to wonder if the car park had been closed down.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed in the multi-storey at Coptfold Road as well as new gates that open when a car is detected at the entrance.

However, Councillor Will Russell said the system is not accurately detecting number plates, and the positioning of the gates may give the impression that the car park is closed.

The changes are a bid by the council to ease parking difficulties in Brentwood.

However, the town’s current parking pay machines have yet to be changed. The cash-only machines and the app have led to “deep frustration” among motorists.

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The issues were raised at Brentwood Council’s ordinary meeting on October 9 by Councillor Russell.

He said: “It has been observed that motorists are turning away due to the installation of ANPR cameras which seem to have had difficulty accurately detecting number plates furthermore the positioning of the gates may give the impression that the car park is closed.”

He added he wanted assurance that the multi-storey car park “is being utilised to its fullest potential”.

Councillor David Kendall, responsible for parking issues, said: “A number of issues are being addressed."