CUSTOMERS have vowed to stay away from a supermarket despite changes to its controversial car parking scheme.

Lidl’s contentious car parking policy meant that many of its shoppers received a parking charge notice (PCN) since it was first introduced in March.

But the budget supermarket has now performed a U-turn amid a furious backlash from some of its loyal customers.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm we’ve installed a new system in the Andover car park.

“Customers will be given 90 minutes of free parking and, upon leaving the store, must scan their receipt and enter their registration number into the car parking screen which is located after the tills.

“We have taken on board feedback from customers that Andover has had its challenges in the past with car parking and we are confident this new system will alleviate the frustrations and ultimately give our customers a better shopping experience and ample parking space.”

Despite asking whether this scheme allowed customers to shop in Lidl and then walking to another shop before returning to their car within 90 minutes, Lidl gave no definitive answer by the time we went to press.

It only replied saying: “The new system is designed so customers can scan their receipt (this will only work if the receipt is dated the same day) and input their registration number.

“This will give the customer 90 minutes of free parking from the time the car entered the car park.”

Lidl are now using car parking management company, Athena. When questioned why they have switched from their previous company, LDK Security Group Ltd, after just three months all the spokesperson would confirm is that they were now using Athena who manage the majority of their car parks.

As previously reported in the Andover Advertiser, Carol Gray was sent a PCN for using the Lidl car park 12 minutes before the store was opened at 8am.

The £45 invoice was for “unauthorised parking” in mid-March but it has since been overturned.

The mum-of-two has not visited the store since and said that Lidl’s uncertain response as to whether customers could leave the car park under the new policy is another reason why she would not return.

She added: “Bring back a ticket to display in the windscreen and claim back in store – much simpler and fairer.”

The Advertiser was contacted this week by Colin Willoughby whose family member received a ticket after dropping their child off so they could catch the school bus.

They too are now refusing to use the store. Lidl declined to comment, and instead encouraged people to call its customer services.