Asda backs down over free-parking dispute

Supermarket Asda has backed down after a local council objected to a change in parking rules at one of its stores.

New signs at the store in Church Street, Biggleswade, warned visitors that its car park could only be used by customers.

Lawyers for Central Bedfordshire Council wrote to Asda, reminding the firm of a prior legal agreement between the two parties. Free parking had been in place for all motorists for up to 90 minutes.

Asda told the BBC it would review signage installed earlier this year and that it "may have caused some confusion".

A spokesperson said: "We haven't made any recent changes to how our Biggleswade car park operates, and it remains one of the few free short-stay options in the town centre.

"We're now aware that signage installed earlier this year may have caused some confusion and are reviewing it to ensure it displays the correct information, and accurately reflects the agreed arrangements with the council."

In a legal letter sent to Asda, which was shown to a council committee meeting on 16 April, a representative said: "If the rule about only for shopping at Asda is enforced, this will be catastrophic for the town centre shoppers and businesses."

They referenced a previous Section 106 agreement. These are legal contracts in which businesses and developers typically promise to invest, build or fulfil an obligation for the community.

According to Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting heard that officers had already told the store to remove the signs within seven days - but this did not happen.

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