WAITROSE has brought in automatic number plate reading cameras at its car park in Chipping Sodbury.
But the supermarket has reassured visitors that people who use the car park to go to the High Street will still be able to park there.
A temporary sign (above) was put out in the car park during May, which said: “Car park for customer use only. ANPR in operation.”
The main aim of the sign and ANPR is understood to be to stop people parking for longer than the four-hour limit.
One car park user who contacted the Voice said: “It can be difficult to get a space when there’s an event at the church or town hall, and this has worsened in recent years as Sodbury has become more popular as a destination.
“However, since the store opened it’s been accepted that the car park is of mutual benefit to the High Street and the supermarket.”
The Voice raised readers’ concerns with the John Lewis Partnership, which runs Waitrose.
‘Miscommunication’
A spokesperson said the sign has been updated to say “Restrictions apply”, adding: “We continue to offer a large number of free parking spaces that are available for use by Waitrose customers and visitors to the local town.
“The time restrictions have always been in place to make sure the car park can be used by as many people as possible, and we are now introducing an ANPR system to monitor this.
“We apologise for the miscommunication in the new temporary signage, which has now been updated.”
Permanent notices in the car park, which is divided into two-hour and four-hour sections, already warn motorists that they face a £100 charge if they overstay or return to the car park within two hours of a previous visit.