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12
Mar
Tesco responds to concerns about parking at Ripon store
Tesco has hinted that it is prepared to make changes to its “unfair” and “confusing” car parking rules in Ripon.
Customer parking at the Marshall Way retail park changed when Tesco replaced Booths in November last year.
Parking is no longer free after 6pm and vehicles can only stay for a maximum of two hours.
Some people say they now avoid Tesco because the parking rules are confusing and businesses are concerned about the impact of 24-hour tariffs on the city’s nighttime economy.
Ripon City Council agreed to contact Tesco head office this week, requesting a return to a maximum of three hours' parking and free parking after 6pm, as reported here by the Stray Ferret.
Cllr Jackie Crozier, a member of the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group who represents Spa ward, asked for the item to be put on the agenda. She said she wanted Tesco to flourish but the current parking rules were unfair.
Tesco in Ripon
Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group who represents Moorside, added he was surprised to discover recently that spending in the Tesco café didn’t qualify for the £5 required for free car parking, further adding to confusion.
Asked to respond to the concerns, Tesco said it was “actively working on a solution to allow café customers to receive a voucher to validate their parking when they spend over £5”.
The company was less forthcoming about the city council’s request for free parking after 6pm and extending the length of the maximum stay but did not rule out changes.
It said any formal correspondence regarding car park management “will be reviewed alongside usage data and operational requirements to make sure we have the most effective and appropriate arrangements in place”.
Tesco added feedback helped it to ensure its stores meet customer needs.
The new parking tariffs came into effect when the store opened on November 20 2025.
Damaging Tesco?
The private company Horizon Parking runs parking at Marshall Way on behalf of Tesco.
Ripon City Council’s involvement comes after Ripon Business Improvement District contacted the Ripon store manager to air its parking concerns.
This week’s city council meeting heard multiple councillors say the current arrangement was damaging to Tesco because it was deterring customers.
Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Spa ward, said Tesco “was not doing as well as they thought they would”.
Cllr Williams added:
“We need to go back to the system that Booths had because people, particularly elderly people, are very confused indeed about the present arrangements. It is clearly impacting Tesco’s trading position.”
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