A SUPERMARKET giant has been slapped with a fine after delivery lorries were found to be disturbing residents by parking illegally near a store in the evening.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard how Tesco had breached an enforcement notice set out by Colchester Council in July last year.

Residents had complained of lorries waiting on the slip road into Highwoods Tesco, despite double yellow lines and signs specifically warning drivers against parking there.

The company was found to have breached the notice on two occasions, with lorries parked in the area in the evening in November and December.

Laura Phillips, mitigating, accepted the charges, but said the company had done all it could to ensure its drivers followed the rules. She said: “Tesco takes its relationship with the council extremely seriously.

“A great deal was done to prevent these breaches, nevertheless on two occasions this has happened. Tesco has responded to these problems proactively and kept the council informed on what it is doing – this continues to be constructive.

“As to the neighbours, one particular person has stressed the problem and has contacted the store. His suggestions have been taken into account and implemented. The issue is delivery lorries parking on the slip road into the store.

“There are at regular intervals signs saying to not park here, on the other side of the road there are double yellow lines.

“The planning permission that put these conditions in place came into effect in 2014 and that was when the double yellow lines were put in.

“The store has a risk assessment provided to all drivers and all drivers are told, by written notice, not to park there.

“The two breaches in this case were not Tesco drivers, they were third party suppliers.

“Full action was taken against each driver, between head office and transport managers to find out what happened and make sure it won’t happen again.

“Nevertheless this has been an ongoing problem, that is why there is a guilty plea.”

Magistrates said the planning requirements imposed on the store were there for the benefit of residents, but accepted Tesco had made great efforts to deal with the problem.

The company was fined £350 ordered to pay £482 costs.