Whitchurch Tesco parking signs row: Changes made to wording
Amended plans by supermarket giant Tesco to install parking signs in its Whitchurch car park have been approved.
Tesco has been granted permission to put automatic number-plate recognition cameras in the car park at its branch in White Lion Meadow, along with other signs warning motorists of the parking-time limit.
Tesco has apologised and is changing the wording of the new signs.
'Tesco customer car park' signs will be replaced by 'Local community parking' ones.
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, while 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.
