Final plea to Morrisons after parking cameras given the green light outside Telford shop
Devastated councillors have given another plea to a Telford supermarket installing parking cameras on its car park, saying "you don't have to do this".
Councillor Jayne Greenaway, who represents Lawley on Telford & Wrekin Council, said limiting usage of the area's main car park outside Morrisons would be devastating both for residents and for other businesses.
Her comments come as hundreds of people sign up to boycott the shop on August 24. Nearly 400 people have followed the Boycott Morrisons Lawley Facebook group.
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor parking at the site were originally rejected by Telford & Wrekin Council but were later approved after an appeal to a planning inspector.
No details have been announced about what restrictions will be put on parking, nor time limits.
Councillor Greenaway said: "We still don't know what the plans are, even though the application has been approved.
"I don't know where we go from here. It will make other units in the area unleasable.
"People are very cross about the situation and rightly so. We're following that up to ensure Lawley has a future.
"The inspector called it in and we have no choice now. We're very much lumbered on this, but the impact if they go ahead would be devastating."
Councillor Greenaway asked for Morrisons to reconsider their decision.
"Morrisons don't have to do this," she said. "The ball is in your court."
Councillor Lee Vidor, Lawley and Overdale parish councillor, said in original plans for the site, developers had intended for Morrisons car park to act as parking for all the shops.
"For all planning applications around Lawley Square a design and access statement has been provided as supporting documentation for consideration," he said.
"They say 'Only limited car parking is available adjacent, the intention being that the main car park is used'.
"Furthermore subsequent planning permissions have been granted based on unrestricted usage for the units in Lawley Square."
A spokeswoman for Morrisons previously said it wanted to bring in a new parking system at the site because customers said they find it difficult to find a space in the car park during busy periods.
