WORKERS who have left their cars all day at a Co-op store in Northwich will now have to find somewhere else to park.

Signs went up this morning, Friday, at the Co-operative Food store car park in Chester Way detailing new restrictions on parking at the supermarket.

Until today free parking was unlimited, but is now limited to 90 minutes, and anyone parking beyond that time will receive a £70 penalty charge notice.

The car park is to be patrolled by an attendant, and the car park is being managed by Horizon Parking, staff from which installed a series of signs detailing the restrictions.

The Chelmsford-based company manages more than 700 car parks in both the public and private sectors, overseeing 175,000 parking spaces.

The company states on its website: “We strive to strike the right balance between enforcement and delivering great service.

“It’s about diplomacy as much as diligence – and you can rely on our people to be helpful, polite and professional at all times.”

The Co-op had announced its intention a few weeks ago to bring in restrictions at the Chester Way car park to free up spaces for its customers.

A Co-operative Food spokesman said: “The store will continue to offer up to 90 minutes of free parking. Charges will apply after the maximum stay.

“The controls are being introduced to ensure that space remains available for customers of the store to park.

“The Co-operative is committed to ensuring that where it introduces parking controls, that it is clearly signed.

“Any enforcement of the parking controls will be by mobile patrol officers.

“Parking controls are introduced only where they are needed to ensure that space remains available for our customers to park.

“Some cars have been parked for long periods of time at the Chester Way car park and so, following a review, restrictions are to be introduced.

“The Co-op believes such controls should be fair however, and the store will continue to offer up to 90 minutes of free parking.”

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