Customers say Westfield West Lakes shopping centre boom gates are creating a traffic 'nightmare'

SHOPPERS have vented their frustrations with traffic hold-ups created by boom gates which have begun operating at the redeveloped Westfield West Lakes.

SHOPPERS have vented their frustrations with traffic hold-ups created by boom gates which have begun operating at the redeveloped Westfield West Lakes.

Linda Davidson, of West Lakes, said the traffic was already congested before the boom gates were installed but it had become worse after paid parking started at the weekend.

"There were people waiting to turn from Turner Drive and it was bumper to bumper," Ms Davidson said.

"It's frustrating, it's inconvenient, the single lane is quite narrow and it doesn't allow for free traffic flow."

Ms Davidson blamed a lack of exit points for the bank up of traffic and said she would rather shop elsewhere to avoid parking "miles away" and validating a ticket.

Have you experienced traffic congestion at the centre since paid parking started? Have your say below.

There are five boom gate entries into the shopping centre including two off Brebner Drive, two off Turner Drive and one near Sportsmans Drive.

There is also one entry without boom gates at a 90-minute express zone, near Woolworths.

West Lakes resident Kerry-Anne Hannant said she was put off by changes to the carpark and the large banks of cars waiting to exit.

"I think the setup is awful," Ms Hannant said.

"It's a nightmare and I'm staying away because I can see how bad the traffic already is."

New parking measures were part of a $95 million upgrade opened on Thursday (October 24). It has brought 40 new retailers to the revamped precinct.

Parking is free for the first three hours and after 6pm.

Lou Crotti, of West Lakes, visited the centre twice last week and said the controlled entries were creating "many, many metres" of waiting cars.

"At a non-peak time I was the eighth car in a line, and behind me were six cars and a bus, all on a single lane to exit the car park," Mr Crotti said.

"I think they are catastrophic, they have caused a lot of confusion and irritation to people wishing to enter or exit the car park."

Shopping centre manager Cathy Main has defended the boom gates as a way to ensure shoppers had "convenient and controlled parking".

She said the boom gates were designed by engineers and traffic consultants and if there were further problems the centre would "review, monitor and make required adjustments".

Parking is free for the first three hours and after 6pm.

However, motorists are hit with a $2 charge for the next half an hour, which increases by $1 per half hour. The maximum charge is $22 for over seven hours and lost tickets incur the same charge.

Have you experienced traffic congestion at the centre since paid parking started? Have your say below.