Supermarket car park warning for volunteers

A volunteer for a local charity was fined 30 when she returned to the car park having gone to deliver shopping for one resident and come back to buy for another.

She was given a parking ticket for returning within two hours and also had to pay a charge for settling up by cheque.

The car park is run by Euro Car Parks.

Now the carers' charity is warning other volunteer shoppers to be cautious, and a spokesman said: "On appealing this fine she was politely informed that she should have read the parking signs in the car park.

"Quite right, and she won't be doing it again, nor will she be shopping at Sainsbury's.

"To all the many volunteers, carers in the town who regularly shop for others, please be aware that you could find yourselves in the same situation '“ doing a kindness for someone else could cost you dearly.

"To other shoppers, think carefully if you forget something from your shopping list, don't jump back into your car to buy the missing item, make sure you wait until you have been away from the car park for two hours or that small item could become a big bill.

"Sainsbury's will say that this is not its fault - but sadly it makes use of the independent company to run the car park.

"Maybe the parking is abused by a few but please don't penalise those who genuinely make a mistake."

The Observer also recently heard of an elderly gentleman who was fined 50 for parking outside a white line in Sainsbury's car park.

Manager Marco Farro said in future if any carers or volunteers need to return to the car park within two hours they could inform the store and he would speak to the parking attendant himself.

He felt if the driver had got in touch with him immediately he would have been able to help.

He said: "It is a valid reason, doing shopping for people who need it.

"I can deal with it if people let us know when they are coming in."

"As for the other, there are car park spaces and if you park outside them it is a potential major health and safety issue."