Members of a leisure centre claim they are being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket by wrongly issued parking fines.

Swimmers and gym-goers who pay a monthly fee to use the facilities at Fairfield Leisure Centre are meant to be able to use the on-site car park free, but many are being hit with £100 charges.

Those using their own vehicles are required to enter their registration numbers into machines each time they visit the centre in Lowfield Street, which recently had a multi-million pound makeover, in order to confirm their membership and claim the free parking.

Fairfield operator Places for People Leisure (PPL) says an investigation is under way to determine whether the system — run by car park operator MET Parking — is working correctly.

June Mace, 78, of Chastillian Road, uses the leisure centre two to three times each week. She has received four fines but insists she has used the system correctly.

She said: “The pool is a real joy for me and this has just taken much of the pleasure away. It makes you very anxious because you do not know when you might get another fine.”

“The pool is a real joy for me and this has just taken much of the pleasure away. It makes you very anxious because you do not know when you might get another fine.” June Mace.

Mrs Mace has appealed against the fines, despite this meaning she loses the right to pay the charges at a discounted rate of £60. She said it feels as though she is being blackmailed.

She added: “I have not broken their rules. All car park users must be genuine leisure centre customers and that is exactly what I am.”

Mrs Mace’s daughter, Rebekah Heywood, described the situation as “madness”.

She said: “People are really worried and upset when they have not done anything wrong.

“It is free parking for the leisure centre users and the leisure centre say they will help, but so far – nothing.

“My mother had proof she attended the centre and was not overstaying, but they still rejected the appeal.”

Former Dartford resident Paul Baird, 41, has also had problems with the new car park regulations.

Mr Baird, who now lives in Chislehurst but still visits his former home town to use the pool, said: “I have been issued with a fine and appealed it, but it has been rejected.

“People did use to take the mick and park there to go into town, but this is not the way to do it. If this does not go right then I will never go back – I cannot afford to pay for something like this.

“The appeal process is clearly stated on the charge notices and is handled in accordance with industry guidelines.” MET Parking.

“I swam there for about 20 years and have an affinity with the area and it seems a shame that my daughter won’t be able to learn to swim in the same pool I did.”

All members of the leisure centre have been contacted to inform them of the investigation, in partnership with MET Parking.

A PPL spokesman said: “For all centre users who have received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN), we are currently in investigating all PCNs with MET Parking to confirm there have been no system errors which may lead to an incorrectly issued PCN.

“We are working to respond to all PCN enquiries by Tuesday, July 5. Any PCN deemed to be correct will in this instance be charged at the lower rate of £60.

Any parking charge notices issued incorrectly will be waived. MET Parking comply with British Parking Association (BPA) legislation and are a registered member of the BPA. PPL do not receive any income from car parking fines.”

A spokesman for MET Parking defended the fines, saying: “The appeal process is clearly stated on the charge notices and is handled in accordance with industry guidelines.”

Fairfield re-opened in February, almost two years after it shut for an extensive £12m refurbishment.

Offering a huge gym space, studios, a sports hall and the main pool, it attracted more than 14,000 visitors and 2,000 membership sign-ups within just six weeks of re-opening.