Bosses of a Telford supermarket today declared their car park a “no-go zone” for boy racers and cruisers as they prepared to extend the opening hours for the Olympics.
Staff at Tesco on Wrekin Retail Park said they had recently been forced to start using the barriers again after the number of boy racers or “cruisers” using the car park to meet during the night had boomed.
But store manager, Sadie Griffiths, said while the doors were open overnight on Sundays from July 22 for the Olympics the car enthusiasts would not be welcome on the car park.
Security staff will be drafted in to ensure the car park is only used by customers and only during the time they are shopping in store.
Manager Mrs Griffiths said: “We expect to be busier through the night than previously as people watch the games at various times of day. It will give our customers the flexibility that they want.
“But we will not allow our customers to feel intimidated by large groups of people congregating on the car park with their cars.
“The car park is for the sole use of customers and only during the time they are on store.
“So even if the car enthusiasts pop in to buy products it doesn’t entitle them to use the car park for the rest of the night.
“It is nice they have a common interest but they will not be able to use our car park for their meets.”
Mrs Griffiths added: “Once the store currently closes on a Sunday at 4pm we know they do have a habit of using our car park but this will not be able to happen anymore.
“We will not be able to use barriers as customers obviously need access so the situation will be monitored.”
Tesco chiefs will be opening up to 200 of its Extra stores for up to 24 hours from July 22. The Wrekin Retail Park store will close at midnight on a Saturday and re-open at 6am on a Sunday.
They said the flexibility is what the customers have wanted.
Chancellor George Osborne revealed the move in March.
The Centre for Retail Research estimates a £189.8m uplift in spend on Sundays during the Olympics.
The current laws mean retailers over 280 sq m are restricted to any six hours of continuous trading between 10am and 6pm on Sundays. The move will allow unlimited trading for eight Sundays from July 22.