I am writing to you in response to your article about car parking at the Orchard Centre, Didcot (Oxford Mail, March 7).
The car park is operated by the Orchard Centre on behalf of all the tenants. Sainsbury's, being one of many tenants, has no direct control over how the car park is run.
The article claims that people are allowed to park for one hour without paying. This is incorrect. Parking is free for the first two hours.
There are 14 clear large signs (Sainsbury's has its own) reminding customers to obtain a free parking ticket.
There are also nine ticket machines which are well located and easily accessible to all.
Your readers should be made aware that any revenue resulting from the parking controls at the Orchard Centre are credited against the management costs associated with the Orchard Centre and its parking. It is not a profit-making scheme.
Due to the close proximity of the railway station, the centre has to enforce parking policies to ensure that only Orchard Centre customers use it and that parking spaces are not abused.
We are sorry to hear that on this occasion, a genuine customer received a ticket, but the scheme has been in operation for some time and the instructions and tariffs are clearly displayed for everyone to see.
Rudi du Plessis, Centre Manager, The Orchard Centre, Didcot
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