The closure of Toombul Shopping Centre has had an extraordinary knock-on effect in other carparks on the northside. 

Recent congestion at Chermside, Stafford and Lutwyche shopping centres has been caused by the removal of 1700 parking spaces at Toombul.

There have been reports of one to four-hour delays to exit shopping centre carparks as customers seek alternative retail outlets.

One shopper has described Westfield Chermside’s car park as a ‘crab pot’ – “you get in but you can’t get out”.

Caller Des told Neil Breen his son and daughter-in-law were forced to call for a lift after being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours.

“The further in the middle you got, the worse it got,” he said.

“As you leave, everyone else is trying to leave ahead of you and your line is never moving.”

Press PLAY below to hear more on the carpark headache

Caller Alexandra told Breenie after sitting in the carpark for three hours, she was forced to give up and take a cab home when her petrol got too low.

“It was insane,” she said. “We went and got the car the next day.”

Press PLAY below to hear her call 

Image: Getty