Plans for new parking signs in Whitchurch supermarket car park approved
Amended plans by a supermarket giant to install new parking signs in its car park have been approved.
Tesco has been granted permission to put automatic number plate recognition cameras in the car park at its store in White Lion Meadow, Whitchurch, along with other signs warning motorists of the parking time limit.
It comes after the supermarket recently installed signs before getting planning permission from the council, which provoked anger from residents and the town council.
Tesco has apologised to residents and is changing the wording of new signs put up.
The original wording on the signs – 'Tesco customer car park' – led to concerns about who could use the car park. The new signs will say 'Local community parking'.
Shropshire Council received more than 20 letters of objection from residents who say White Lion Meadow is a public/community car park and should remain as such.
A report by Shropshire Council case officer Philip Mullineux said: "With consideration to the amended plans received, the proposed design and appearance of the signage is considered acceptable on this retail store site and will not result in any visual impact in this locality or cause any highway safety concerns.
"Two cameras will be located on the access road off Bridgewater Street, whilst one camera will be positioned directly adjacent to the entrance into the car park opposite the bus station. The cameras will be located on metal poles.
"With consideration to amended plans received, overall the proposed design and appearance of the poles and cameras are considered acceptable on this retail site and will not result in any visual impact in this locality or cause any highway safety concerns."
The land was leased to Tesco by Shropshire Council for a term of 125 years from July 1990, and residents have argued that as it is not the retailer’s land it should not have been allowed to submit the plans.
Tesco bosses said they had been approached by some customers who said they found it difficult to park there to carry out their food shop.
Jessica Walker, spokeswoman for Tesco, previously said no enforcement would take place until a decision was made on the application.
A representative from Tesco was invited to attend a recent meeting of Whitchurch Local Joint Committee to discuss the plans but the email was sent to the wrong place.
