Proposed ANPR parking system at Waitrose Christchurch’s car park will ‘improve efficiency’

PAY and display parking meters could be scrapped and three ANPR cameras installed instead at Waitrose Christchurch’s car park.

According to the supermarket giant, the cameras will “dramatically improve the efficiency” of the parking at the site and “prevent customers needing to return to top up their ticket should they spend longer than they originally planned”.

The cameras will register a car’s number plate on arrival and ensure the vehicle’s owner has paid to park when it exits the car park.

Waitrose manages the car park, but leases the site from Christchurch Town Council.

According to a planning application to BCP Council, the cameras, which will be mounted on high poles, will be “very discreet in nature and appearance and will have no impact on amenity or the character and appearance of the surrounding area”.

It adds: “They will simply allow the car park to be better managed.“

The cameras will operate only during the car parking hours, and an area for permit holders will be retained.

Waitrose, which has had a store there since 2007, said the automatic system “will significantly improve the overall efficiency and operation of the car park”.