Express & Star

Sainsbury's at Oldbury to bring in £70 parking fines

Oldbury’s largest supermarket is to bring in £70 parking fines.

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Sainsbury's in Oldbury

Sainsbury’s in Freeth Street says people are leaving their vehicles at its car park without entering the store.

In response, the firm has lodged plans for four number plate recognition cameras, which will read the number plates of cars as they enter the car park.

If they remain beyond the allowed three-hour time limit during store hours or 10-minute limit outside store hours the motorist will receive a fine.

The supermarket car park is in the town centre and close to Sandwell Council House.

Angharad Lynch, property communications manager at Sainsbury’s, said: “Our customers have told us that they want to park and shop at our store, however sometimes they have difficulty doing so as non -customers use the car park for all day parking.

“We are looking to install cameras which will record the time vehicles stay in our car park and allow people to use the car park for up to three hours, freeing up spaces for our customers.”

She added: The camera system also helps with deterring anti-social behaviour in the car park outside of trading hours. For example, boy racers.”

The cameras will be mounted on poles within the car park, along with message signs alerting the driver their registration has been taken and the time they entered.

There will also be 18 new signs put up around the car park.

The planning application by Sainsbury’s comes after Sandwell Council introduced parking charges at its car park in West Bromwich Street, Oldbury.

This was despite strong opposition from council workers.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Richard Marshall, said: “It is down to them to plan what they want to do. They want to protect their shoppers, they want as many people as they can to use the store, you can understand the thinking behind it.

“The car park is the only place you can park for free in the town centre, otherwise it is the council car park.”

Sainsbury’s operates a similar system at its new shop off the ring road in Wolverhampton. Sandwell Council is likely to make a decision in the coming weeks.