The John Lewis Partnership are applying to the council for consent to install two Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at the Waitrose car park in Ely.
They propose to install a single MAV ANPR camera on a single post to cover both entrance and exit lanes. They say:
The new ANPR post and cameras will have the principal benefit to Waitrose customers and public users of the parking facility by improving security with the car park as well as adding to the efficiency of the management of the car park usage. We believe the new post will be in keeping with the surrounding site furniture in terms of scale and colour and will help to enhance and modernise this existing car park area.
The planning reference number is 17/01387/FUL. Details of the application can be found here and comments may be made (to the council, not to me!) until 31 August. You can make your views known to the council:
- online using the district council’s planning pages;
- by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
- or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE.
So how long will it be before the pay machines arrive?
Well, that would be interesting, as there are free alternatives. If Waitrose were to introduce parking charges, that would presumably put even more pressure on the council car parks at St Mary’s Street, Barton Road, Ship Lane, and the Forehill, as well as the Sainsburys, Tescos and Aldi supermarket car parks. And Thursdays and Saturdays would be even more intolerable.
That is not a bad idea. At least vandals, thieves will think twice before they commit a crime? Also ppl who drive their trollies nto my car, or bump my car in future will be held accountable.
Although, i question how long Waitrose will kep the cameras rollng, as Tesco switches them off hahah, so much for security
I’m not sure how wide the angle will be of the proposed cameras. They will be able to identify number plates on entry and exit from the car park, but I doubt they would be able to be used for security surveillance of the entire car park area.
What a pity signage for disabled bay is non existent and certainly does not make it clear, that should you return later then the allotted time, due to your needs and mobility issues, you will be penalised heavily.
I guess it’s a great money spinner for Waitrose to hit those who need this facility the most.
Do we really want our Disabled drivers and blue badge holders parking around the towns already busy roads trying to avoid the penalties imposed at this essential carpark?
Hi my partner has just been fined for being longer than 2 hours, he is a disabled wheelchair user and thought with his blue badge he could stay 3 hours as it wasn’t clear. I have appealed but waiting for the response.
Sorry to hear that, Helen. It’s causing a lot of confusion.
Waitrose car park is a private car park, not controlled by the council. The rules are at the discretion of Waitrose. They allow two hours’ free parking, with no concessions for disabled users – and they are within their rights to do so.
A blue badge entitles the holder to park for park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours, but in general not where there are restrictions on loading or unloading. Blue badge holders are not entitled to park on yellow lines in off-street car parks. And that three hour limit does not apply in private car parks – and never has done at Waitrose.
I’ve Just been hit with a £40 fine for exceeding a 2 hour limit in this car park – visited Ely to look around the town and museum but a recent knee op limited my speed and ability to use less central car parks.
I know I exceeded the time limit and am at fault but the level of fine is punitive – especially on a Sunday afternoon when the town appeared not to be very busy.
Disappointed in JLP for applying for and the planning authority for approving this charging arrangement. Has ruined the memory of what was otherwise a pleasant day out.
Hi I’m a carer with a private agency I take a lady to waitrose on a Friday morning to do her shopping we are there about 20 mins but then I need to go back and meet m mum there to do her shopping will I get a ticket as in there twice in one morning
There are two issues you might want to look out for, Karen. Firstly, it has been known in some car parks where you visit twice in a 24 hour period for your first entrance to be paired with your second exit, which would then be charged as an overstay. Secondly, you might be caught by the ‘no return within two hours’ rule if you don’t space your two visits sufficiently apart.
does this 2 hr parking apply to blue badge holders if so how quick can a disable person move ? i feel this is discriminating against disable people
There are no concessions for disabled people at the Waitrose car park, I’m afraid.
I work for Cambs. County Council as a Shared lives Carer and I took a young man to look around Ely, we parked in Waitrose and left the Blue Badge in the window of the car. On 18th July 2019 I received a Parking Charge Notice from Britannia Parking for £40.00. We parked at 14:00:45 until 16:17:56, 2 hours and 17 minutes, I too expected there to be 3 hours on the Blue Card………..So people must be made aware of this awful BRITANNIA PARKING, they have no mercy for anyone, be you old, disabled, having a learning disability. SHAME ON YOU WAITROSE for having using these people!!!!
Sorry to hear this, Marion. There are no allowances at the Waitrose car park for people with disabilities.
I am another caught in the disabled fiasco. I parked for just under 3 hours which is what I am allowed anywhere else it seems.
Well councillor Lorna Dupre- You seem to be telling all the people who have complained about this company that you cannot do anything about it and they are within their rights to do so.
My question is who allowed them to have these rules in the first place. It was the council Lorna Dupre. Why did the council allow these rules and why have they not got the power to change the ruling. You seem to have allowed this company to victimize disabled people. I wonder if you will reply ?.
Good afternoon, Chris. The Council has no powers to prevent companies determining their own parking charge arrangements on their own land. If you believe the law should be changed, to give councils power to determine parking charges on land they do not own, then you would need to lobby your Member of Parliament about that. Kind regards, Lorna
My friend, who is disabled has had a £40 fine from the Waitrose car park for exceeding 12 minutes and like everyone else thought she was entitled to 3 hours. As so many people have complained about this then may I suggest large notices be put up, especially around the disabled bays to show that it is only 2 hours, as the number of complaints seem to suggest there is not a lot of information. If this is how it is going to be then Ely will become one of those towns that will slowly die from lack of people using it. Shops are already shutting down and this does not help the economy of the town.
I have just been hit with this fine which of course I shall pay but rest assured I shall never use the car park or Waitrose in Ely again.. such a shame in a town which has always been free to park in now has allowed Waitrose to bring in this charge, let’s hope it doesn’t hit the town to hard…I’d hate to see an already struggling town centre hit even more simply because a car park has imposed fines on the one car park in town which is easily accessible to use less able shoppers… a real shame
Sorry to hear that. It’s certainly a risk you take when you use the Waitrose car park.