'We made a mistake' says Dudley supermarket which wrongly threatened motorists with £70 fines

Now a source at the supermarket has said that the signs were installed in error, and will be removed.

The new branch of Aldi opened in Bilston Street, Sedgley, on November 7.

Dudley Council granted planning permission for the store on condition that the car park would be open to the general public, including parents dropping off and collecting children from the neighbouring Queen Victoria and Dormston schools.

The store was built on a site partly occupied by a public car park owned and managed by Dudley Council.

But signs were installed restricting the car park to Aldi customers only, for a maximum of 90 minutes. They warn that the site is monitored by closed-circuit television, and that £70 fines will be issued to anybody who contravenes the rules.

Councillor Damian Corfield, who represents Sedgley ward on Dudley Council said he had raised the matter with the council's planning department, which was now investigating.

He said: "Planning officers will be looking into it. Since I raised the matter myself, other people have raised the issue, including a councillor in Gornal who is concerned about the site there."

Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “If we were to receive a formal planning enforcement complaint we would investigate and take action as appropriate.

“We have not received one and are therefore not currently investigating. However, officers are in the process of flagging up the requirements of the car park management plan with Aldi.”

A source inside the company said the car park was open to the general public, and that parents dropping off their children would not be penalised.

The source said that standard signs had been used in error, which were in the process of being updated, adding: "We apologise for any confusion caused."