Leicester residents say supermarket is causing parking chaos in neighbourhood
Residents say a new supermarket is causing parking chaos in their neighbourhood.
The Pak Foods store opened in Evington Valley Road, in Leicester, on Saturday.
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Pak Foods in Evington Valley Road, in Leicester
Nearby residents say they have faced problems with customers causing congestion, parking on double yellow lines and blocking driveways, and leaving their cars in Evington Valley Gardens, a private road.
When planning permission for the business was given by Leicester City Council, residents said they feared it would cause parking problems.
The supermarket has around 50 parking spaces.
Mohammed Osman, who lives in Evington Valley Gardens, said: "Our concerns are a reality. Overnight our quiet leafy estate has become a traffic-laden, overcrowded hell hole.
"There has been major traffic congestion on Evington Valley Road, mass illegal parking on Evington Valley Gardens, and many angry confrontations between residents and motorists/shoppers."
Shenaz Mohammed, who lives in the same road, said: "There have been a lot of cars. They've been blocking our drive. It starts at 10am and goes on until the shop closes at night."
Staff from Inner Guard Security, which patrols the private road, handed out a dozen tickets on Monday and clamped five vehicles over the weekend.
Director Darren Draycott says he was threatened by a shopper on Saturday when he clamped a car.
He said: "People have said we are a scam out to get people but all we do is carry out what we are paid to do and what is clearly stated on the signs.
"We go over and above the legal requirement of signs telling people not to park here.
"We've seen people totally block the road – there's an elderly man with a heart condition on the estate, what happens if he needs an ambulance?"
More than 40 people signed a petition against the planning application when it was submitted last year.
At the time, highways officers submitted a report to the council warning of potential traffic problems.
But city planning officers said that by joining together what had been separate industrial units the area would be improved.
A city council spokeswoman said the authority had received two letters of complaint about the parking problems and would be investigating.
Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, a partner at Pak Foods, said the company had taken measures to combat parking issues.
He said the company had a large car park and five attendants to make sure it operated smoothly.
He added staff were telling customers not to park on double yellow lines, kerbs or on the private road and added notices would be going up as well.
He said: "The last thing we want to do is to upset our neighbours. They are our first customers. We will make things the best we can."
16 Comments
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by Mr Rupa, Evington.
Friday, April 01 2011, 3:04PM
“I really dont understand the complaints about the traffic and noise, the Mosque which opened in 1997,had a signature of over 1400 people and causes far more disruption and noise. Buses, Emergency vehicles, and everyday traffic often cant get through due to the worshippers, on Fridays and at Ramadan its a nightmare. The public toilets and recycling bins were removed due to the Mosque complaining and people prey on the Queens Highway.The very people who complain about Pak foods saw no problem about a Mosque being built. You have very liitle to complain about now. The old adage, a camel will pass through and a mouse will not through the eye of the needle applies. Its alabout the votes, and how councillors, MPs are dictated to by the block Islamic vote. Heaven knows the complaints that would have been shown to a non Islamic supermarket. I see that the Mosque has been granted and extension, why no complaints about this?”
by John, Ecington Leicester
Tuesday, December 28 2010, 7:19PM
“If your going to open a big store then you need the parking you can't block peoples driveways and roads and if Tescos are boreing well then they have taken ober the empty Waitrose it was always going to be them”
by mr singh, leicester
Wednesday, August 25 2010, 6:55AM
“my god there is no trouble with parking here apart from the stupid neighbours moaning and the other local shop keepers ranting and causing an up-roar amongst themselves.
This shop is a god send and its the best decision the council have made all year.
this shop is amazing and fair play to the owners wish them all the best
mr s s singh”
by Adam, Oadby
Saturday, August 21 2010, 1:37PM
“Excellant supermarket ! Leicester needed a clean,systematic,freshness,hmc hallal,Value Supermarket.
Parking is and issue every where in evington,
I am not sure what differance the planning approval for Pak supermarket had on the locals,As there was a previous supermarket for years,The issue was the management did not have any clue how to manage a supermarket .Also the Omar grocers customers also have parking issues.”
by rachael smith, leicester
Saturday, July 24 2010, 6:43PM
“i live oppisite pak foods im absolutely disquted how the council gave them permission to open a big store 7 days a week they are open from 7 am to all hours and even on sunday how on earth can we go sleep i am an old diabetic and disabled person i require a amblance ever so often.my grandson works a night shift he cannot get a good day sleep order to work his night shift.also how can we park my car and my grandsons van because people take up all the parking spaces even park in front of my car and my grandsons van in front of the driveway. Also some of the people stop in middle of the road to go into pak foods and do there shopping it is mad put a stop to this maddness and please let us have our street back the way it was and so that my grandson can sleep in the day so he can work in nights safely running the machines if he gets hurt running the machinery at night we will sue pak foods and the council.they,ve been only open a week and i have had 4 arguements with customers of pak foods i will not move because of this i,ve been here all my life.no matter what anybody offers me it is a principal.”