The area behind Netto supermarket will now allow motorists to stay for 90 minutes rather than an hour.

A growing number of shopkeepers had called for regulations to be relaxed after numerous fines were dished out to shoppers and local workers.

Last week the Post reported how one customer to the supermarket was being ordered to shell out £90 after exceeding the one hour maximum stay by 11 minutes.

She had used Netto and spent more than £100 on groceries.

The car park is not part of the supermarket and is privately owned by Highview Parking Ltd, which has security cameras monitoring vehicles round the clock.

Business owners said the restrictions and consequent fines were deterring people from coming into the town.

Town clerk Mary McGarry said: “Following an email the time has been extended to 90 minutes, but not all day parking, as that would not help the local traders.

“Residents were enraged at the huge fine imposed for going over the one hour allowed on the car park behind the Netto supermarket.

“The restrictions are damaging the trade at the supermarket, and the rest of the town, as shoppers can go directly to Tesco, and stay there for a longer period of time without coming down the High Street at all.

“Many people who do shop at Netto and other places in the town on a regular basis need more than one hour.”

Sharon Gant was one of number who made her feeling clear to the council about the parking restrictions.

The proprietor of the near Bradley’s Coffee Shop has been fined three times.

She said: “As a business or as customers where is there to park in Market Weighton, especially on a weekend?

“The restrictions are damaging the trade as it is. People are parking in Tesco all day and nobody is coming into the centre. People are boycotting the town, we have noticed a decrease in custom, and so have others.”

Mrs Gant is organising a meeting in which she will invite business owners and customers to discuss the parking issue in the town. The meeting will be held at Bradley’s Coffee Shop next Thursday, 19 November, at 7pm.