A CONTROVERSIAL system in place to 'reduce car park abuse' at Morrisons has been approved by planning chiefs.

Customers hit out in January 2015 after the supermarket chain's store, on Greenalls Avenue, introduced measures restricting parking to two hours.

Shoppers who failed to comply with the terms and conditions of Parking Eye's system were faced with an £85 fine.

However, following discussions between Morrisons, Parking Eye and the council, it was confirmed planning consent 'had not been sought' for parts of the system due to an 'administrative oversight'.

But in November the car park management firm applied for the retention of the existing signage at the 650-space site, including for the signs mounted on lighting columns, poles and walls of the building.

The plans got the green light last Tuesday, January 10, meaning the system, which now allows customers to park for three hours, can stay in place.

In the design and access statement Parking Eye outlined the basis of the application.

It said: "Parking Eye proposes to install a car park management system on an existing car park, which utilises automatic number plate recognition cameras and associated signage, to monitor the entrance and exit of vehicles within the specified car park.

"The equipment used for the proposed development will be of a standard specification and be as environmentally sensitive as possible in terms of design.

"The proposal seeks to provide management of the existing car park to reduce car park abuse and ensure that spaces are available for genuine site users.

"The proposed development will have a minimal impact on the landscape character and no landscape elements would be lost as a result of the construction and installation of an automatic number plate recognition car park management system.

"As the site is an existing car park the new infrastructure will be installed in an area that already incorporates similar style features."

Morrisons said it installed the new system to 'help customers who told us they were finding it difficult to find a space at busy times'.