Published: Thursday, 12th February, 2009 6:00am

Tesco barriers are on the up

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TESCO is hoping that every little will help in its fight to stop travellers setting up camp in its car park after getting permission to put up security barriers.

But councillors fear the gates at the Napier Road store in Reading will also give drivers of noisy Tesco delivery lorries an excuse for parking outside nearby homes overnight.

Cllr Richard Stainthorp said the lorries disturbed residents in the Luscinia Views flats and said: "Many of the lorry drivers are too lazy to park down at the east end and instead park on the bend near the roundabout overnight, refrigeration units chugging."

He told Reading Borough Council planning committee on Wednesday last week that Tesco already said it banned lorries from parking down Napier Road but said: "With the so far very laid back approach by the Tesco management to enforcing the ban, I think I have got serious concerns."

Cllr Tony Page added: "Tesco have to start behaving like considerate neighbours."

Tesco applied for permission to put up six height restriction barriers - two of which could be opened for lorries - and metal bollards.

Council planning officers' report to the committee said that they were requested "to prevent caravans and other non-Tesco related large vehicles from entering this section of the car park".

The barriers were approved on the condition that Tesco agreed to a management plan to prevent lorries parking in Napier Road but Cllr Pete Ruhemann raised concerns that it could be hard to enforce and might be giving them "all carrot and no stick".

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