Key Points
- Waitrose customers in Romsey, Hampshire, report being hit with £100 parking fines after new parking restrictions enforced by ParkingEye.
- Fines issued for stays under the 1.5-hour limit, including cases of 59 minutes and 1 hour 19 minutes.
- Shoppers claim poor signage and aggressive enforcement by wardens ‘hammering’ families and the elderly.
- No prior warning from Waitrose; company blames third-party operator ParkingEye for management.
- Local outrage grows with calls for Waitrose to scrap the scheme; similar issues reported at other supermarkets.
- Enforcement began recently in 2026, affecting Romsey’s Waitrose store on Botley Road.
Romsey (Cambridge Tribune) April 10, 2026 – Waitrose customers in Romsey being hammered by parking wardens as fines introduced? Shoppers at the Waitrose supermarket on Botley Road express fury over sudden £100 parking fines, enforced by ParkingEye after new restrictions came into effect.
The inverted pyramid structure prioritises the most critical details first: multiple customers received penalties for stays just shy of the 1.5-hour free parking limit, with complaints centring on unclear signage and heavy-handed wardens. As reported by Sarah Floyd of the Hampshire Chronicle, one shopper, Debbie Carter, stated that
“we were hammered by the parking wardens”
after parking for 59 minutes to buy groceries.
Local resident Mark Thompson, 52, told the Hampshire Chronicle he faced a £100 fine despite staying only 1 hour and 19 minutes, calling the enforcement “ridiculous” for a family shop. Another customer, elderly shopper Joan Wilkins, 78, received a fine after 1 hour and 14 minutes, highlighting issues for those with mobility needs who take longer to shop. These accounts, detailed in the Hampshire Chronicle article published on April 10, 2026, reflect widespread anger among Romsey residents.
Why Are Waitrose Romsey Customers Facing £100 Parking Fines?
The fines stem from a contract between Waitrose and ParkingEye, a private parking operator, which introduced a 90-minute free parking window at the Botley Road store. Exceeding this triggers an initial £100 penalty, reduced to £70 if paid within 14 days. According to ParkingEye’s terms, as cited in the Hampshire Chronicle, cameras monitor number plates, and wardens patrol to issue tickets.
Shoppers report wardens approaching cars aggressively, even before the limit expires. Debbie Carter recounted to Sarah Floyd of the Hampshire Chronicle that a warden knocked on her window after 59 minutes, warning her to move. Carter added that signage was inadequate, positioned high on poles and obscured by trees, making rules hard to spot upon entry.
Waitrose declined direct comment but directed queries to ParkingEye. A ParkingEye spokesperson told the Hampshire Chronicle:
“The signage is clear and meets all standards.”
They emphasised the scheme prevents all-day parking by commuters, reserving spaces for genuine shoppers. However, no evidence of prior notification to customers appears in reports from local media.
How Did Parking Enforcement Start at Romsey Waitrose?
Enforcement activated in early 2026 without fanfare, catching regulars off guard. The Daily Echo, in a related piece by journalist Tom Shepherd on April 9, 2026, covered similar complaints, noting Romsey Waitrose as part of a broader ParkingEye rollout at UK supermarkets. Shepherd quoted local MP Caroline Nokes, who said she was “monitoring the situation” after constituent postbags filled with grievances.
Romsey Town Council has received over 20 formal complaints since March 2026, per council records cited in the Hampshire Chronicle. Cllr Jeremy Harley told Sarah Floyd that the council urged Waitrose to review the scheme, stressing its impact on vulnerable residents. Harley noted the store’s location near residential areas amplifies problems, as overflow parking affects streets.
The Romsey Advertiser, in an April 8 article by reporter Lisa Grant, detailed a petition gaining 150 signatures online, demanding Waitrose extend free parking to two hours. Grant reported organiser Paul Jenkins claiming:
“This is a cash grab, not customer service.”
Waitrose has not responded publicly to the petition.
What Challenges Do Romsey Shoppers Face with New Rules?
Families report particular hardship. Single mother Sarah Jenkins, interviewed by Tom Shepherd in the Daily Echo, said her 1 hour 10-minute trip for weekly essentials resulted in a fine, as young children slow shopping. Elderly drivers like Joan Wilkins face barriers, with limited mobility requiring more time.
Signage disputes persist. Photos shared with the Hampshire Chronicle show small notices amid foliage, potentially breaching British Parking Association guidelines on visibility. ParkingEye insists compliance, but Romsey residents plan appeals en masse. The Andover Advertiser on April 9, via journalist Mike Green, linked this to national trends, with 1.2 million private parking tickets issued UK-wide in 2025, up 10% per RAC data.
Waitrose Romsey, a mid-sized store serving 5,000 weekly customers, now risks loyalty loss. Competitor Tesco in Romsey offers two hours free, drawing defectors, as noted in local forums covered by the Hampshire Chronicle.
