Car park charges will be imposed at St James' a few weeks before Christmas.

The fees will be payable from Monday, December 3, after nine months of free parking.

The costs will be the same as with district council charges in Dover town centre, £1.10 an hour.

A spokesman for the leisure and retail park's owner Legal & General said: "We can confirm that installation of car park equipment will begin shortly. This means we’ll be introducing charges to use the 445-space, pay-and-display car park from Monday, December 3, bringing it in line with other facilities in the town.

" Parking charges will be at the same rate that Dover District Council sets for its town centre car parks and will apply from Monday to Saturday. The changes will ensure customers can access more parking spaces giving extra time to explore Dover.

It will be the first time that customers at the complex will have to pay for parking since it initially opened, with Cineworld, in March.

Legal & General had already warned that the fees were coming but had been delayed because of technology problems with the original equipment.

Its spokesman added: “We’re keen that local residents and tourists alike enjoy the town of Dover as a whole, benefiting all shops and restaurants.

"Some 12 million passengers use the Port of Dover each year, with many driving along the A20 to reach their ships. By attracting a good number of those visitors, we can entice them into the town, to the advantage of everyone. Convenient car parking, desirable retailers and welcoming dining choices all come together to draw customers into St James Dover' and then into the wider town centre.”