Parking Charge Review

RESIDENTS in Hadleigh are celebrating after a supermarket store agreed to review a controversial parking limit.

Morrisons, in London Road, Hadleigh added a new three-hour parking limit to its car park last year, claiming that its customers were “struggling to find a parking space”, but the move sparked complaints from shoppers and nearby shop owners.

Campaigners claimed that the time restriction contravened the original conditions of the planning application for the store, which were to provide a large store and a car park to serve the supermarket and town centre.

Now, after pressure from Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and councillor Jacqui Thornton and Morrisons has agreed to review the three-hour parking limit.

Ms Harris reportedly said: “I am very grateful to Morrisons for agreeing to this review when I asked them.

“Morrisons is a vital anchor in our town centre in Hadleigh and their community champions do amazing work supporting groups and causes across Castle Point.

“That said, traders and residents have raised deep concerns about the new restrictions for their car park and councillor Jacqui Thornton and others have been campaigning hard against it.”

Ms Thornton, who represents the St James ward, said: “No-one is suggesting that the Morrisons car park should not be primarily used by those who shop at their store, the problem was there was no way of buying extra parking time to go to the other shops or have a meal or coffee out with friends before or after their big shop. I have been working with local business and they have noticed an effect of footfall.

A Morrisons spokesman stated: “The restrictions we have introduced following customer feedback are intended to ensure that shoppers can always find a parking space.

“We understand the importance of the car park to the town and will review occupancy levels over the coming months.”

Picture: Rebeca Harris, Jacqui Thornton and campaigners at Morrisons

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