Residents told to pay £5,000to park by Tesco developers

ANGRY residents living near a new Tesco supermarket in South Yorkshire have protested to their town council about being asked to pay 5,000 for a parking space near their homes – which they had assumed was free.

The residents went to Penistone Town Council complaining about the new spaces in the former Back Lane, which has been converted into a cul-de-sac by property developers Dransfield Properties which built the new Tesco store that opened last month.

Those affected live in nine terrace houses at Garside Buildings and Armitage Buildings and, prior to the supermarket being built, parked their cars on nearby land now used for the Tesco store.

Dransfield Properties has put down double yellow lines near their homes and has marked out the 11 parking spaces which the residents thought were free until receiving letters saying they could have one for 5,000.

Andy Plummer, who lives next to the site, said: "This is awful and it seems to be a rip-off because there is nowhere else to park. It is unbelievable they are wanting 5,000 just for a parking space."

He said that in the consultation exercise Dransfield said parking would be provided– but did not say they would have to pay.

Mayor of Penistone Coun Carol Bradbury said: “This has caused a lot of concern among these residents and we have referred the matter to Barnsley Council for them to investigate."

Amanda Holmes, spokeswoman for Dransfield Properties said: “Before the new development was completed in Penistone there were no dedicated residents car parking spaces in the area and as part of the overall investment in this part of the town centre we have created new off street parking spaces on a piece of land the company owns.

“We are now making these spaces available to residents to purchase should they wish to and in doing so recover a small amount of the costs involved.”