TESCO TO END FREE PARKING UNLESS YOU SPEND

Shoppers at the Tesco store in Weston-super-Mare town centre will have to spend at least £5 in store if they want to park a car for more than 30 minutes.

Tesco bosses are going to introduce new parking measures for the store which will see people fined £70 if they stay for longer than two hours. If residents want to park for free, they must spend £5 in store.

The store has applied for planning permission to install ticket machines and barriers at the site.

Liberal Democrat Weston-super-Mare Central Ward Councillor Mike Bell said: "This is an understandable move by Tesco. For years there have been people using their car park as a free town centre parking resource and not shopping in store.

"However, it does reinforce the urgent need for the council to come up with a proper parking strategy for the town centre. We're likely to lose Locking Road car park in the future and there needs to be adequate and fairly priced spaces for visitors and residents alike."