Tesco has sparked controversy after introducing restrictions that limit evening shoppers to just one hour of parking between 8pm and midnight.
The supermarket chain’s policy change has prompted an outcry from customers who rely on evening shopping for their weekly groceries.
The new rules, which vary by location across the country, represent a significant reduction from the standard daytime allowance.
Under the new restrictions, customers visiting between midnight and 6am face an even tighter limit of just 30 minutes parking time.
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Many drivers were upset with Tesco’s decision to make changes to parking rules
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During standard daytime hours from 6am to 8pm, shoppers can still use the traditional three-hour parking allowance.
One frustrated shopper took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their concerns, explaining how the restrictions would impact their weekly evening shopping routine.
The user explained that they typically shop without their children so they can have a brief moment of relaxation and get items that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
While each Tesco store can maintain its own individual parking limits, other users expressed their frustration at the new policy on social media.
“I know to a lot of people this probably seems petty and not a big deal, but to anyone who either has kids or works hours and has to shop in the evening, or for anyone neurodivergent it’s absolutely not okay,” wrote one shopper.
Another customer responded: “I agree @Tesco I’d need more than an hour in the evening. Have enough stress in work that I don’t need to be rushed going shopping too!”
A full-time carer shared their perspective: “I also can only do the shopping on an evening. Similarly, it’s two hours to myself once a week. This is a really inconsiderate thing to do.”
In response to customer concerns, a Tesco spokesperson explained the reasoning behind the new restrictions.
They said: “It is important to us that all our customers can find a space when they visit our stores.”
The company stated that where parking limits are in place, they serve two main purposes: better management of spaces and deter anti-social behaviour in car parks at night.
Similar complaints were made last year after a popular Tesco supermarket in Worcester was forced to introduce new restrictions between 10pm and 12am.
The rules aimed to crack down on anti-social behaviour and car meets, with drivers able to stay for a maximum of one hour between 10pm and 12am.
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Tesco said the changes were being made in some instances to crack down on anti-social behaviour
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Separate rules were in place between 12am and 6am daily and between 6pm and 12am on Sunday’s, meaning drivers could stay for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Tesco sets parking restrictions in car parks based on usage and capacity at each store and this has been the case for a number of years.
This can include overnight restrictions. While this is not a universal policy, they can be put in place at a small number of stores to deter anti-social behaviour.
