A Wiltshire Aldi adding ANPR cameras to its car park has split opinion among Adver readers.

Shoppers can stay at the Malmesbury store for up to 90 minutes and must not return within four hours or park there outside of opening hours.

Anyone found to have broken these rules could be slapped with a £70 fine.

Some customers vowed to never shop at an Aldi again while others were more understanding of the reason for the new system.

Tracy Fieldsend said: “I can honestly say trying to spend more than 90 mins in an Aldi is extremely difficult - believe me I’ve done an hour and that was tough so not sure why people are moaning?

“It’s for Aldi customers, not people working in town all day.”

Danny D’Arcy said: “Goodbye Aldi, you’ve succumbed to those nasty anti-social car park management companies . No shopping for me there now.”

Robert Evans said: “They can stick their whole supermarket where the sun doesn't shine.

“I feel that they're punishing their customers for parking in their car park while spending money in their store, and until they get rid of that ANPR system I won't be shopping there.

“It is completely morally wrong to limit the length of time a customer can park there car in their car park to spend money in their store.

“It's just very unfortunate that the minority abuse the system, which in turn causes a lot of problems for genuine customers.

“It just infuriates me that as a customer you could be penalized for parking in there car park.”

Gavin Thurlow replied: “Guess you won't be travelling many places any more then as most supermarkets have this in place already, even motorway services do.”

Joe Mohammed said: “Wow! You need to calm down - you get two hours to do shopping unless you’re buying for a city!

Philip Elmes said: “Morally wrong? It's private land.”

Matt Scott asked: “How long does it take to do an Aldi shop. Not even a cafe there.”

Elaine Daniel said: “At Xmas though, this could be pushing it if the store is busy and you are waiting in queues at the checkout.

“Surely this then becomes a store problem not a customer issue.”

Machala Pearce said: “It was done to stop the boy racers playing in the car park after hours.”

Sandy Arnold said: “An hour and half I guess is long enough. I for one would not worry about 90 mins, I’m in and out in 20 mins tops.”

Stephen Smith said: “We’ve had Waitrose and Aldi ANPR for years in Wokingham. Only way to ensure there’s enough parking for shoppers. Good job.”

Andy Kerr agreed: “Good idea. Keep the shop car park for shoppers.”

Wendy Dick disagreed: “That's why I never shop at Aldi any more, we go to Lidl instead.”

Margaret English said: “Apparently some people park there and get collected and go to work where parking is short or paid for.”

Paul Loveday said: “I'm wondering how you could possibly spend more than 90 minutes in an Aldi.”

Lisa Daltrey replied: “If you’re taking a 90-year-old shopping with poor mobility but is fiercely independent, it can take a lot longer, and the manager won’t give you extra time, just said if you get a ticket come back!”

Terrie Fisher said: “Wouldn't bother me. Systems like this are already in place for other supermarket car parks. I shop and go so won't be an issue. Usually less than an hour anyway.”

Fiona Phillips said: “Best idea, used in many carparks, what's the problem.”

Ffion Hibbard added: “Honestly what’s the problem? Even when I’m dawdling there and not in a rush, I can’t spend much more than an hour there!

“There’s no real reason why to park there for anything other than shopping in Aldi so can’t see a problem myself?”

Kelly Collins said: “Like shopping isn’t stressful enough.”

Gary Moss said: “They’ve been doing that at Drove Road since it opened.”

Rosie Lee said: “Literally 90 per cent of big shops have this. Don't see people moaning about Tesco who have had the same time limit for years now.”

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