Pensioners are getting lost in a Waitrose supermarket car park in an Oxfordshire town.
The Waitrose supermarket on St Martin’s Street in Wallingford is one of the town’s biggest shops and is used by hundreds of customers daily.
Despite its high use, the location has been posing some problems for elderly customers recently due to the level of lighting in its adjacent car park.
The car park, which is owned by the council, but leased to Waitrose who take responsibility, has several lights for the darker nights.
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Several of the bulbs are currently broken though and this has led to some customers getting lost as well as falling over.
“The other evening when I was packing my shopping, I noticed an elderly lady with her shopping and zimmer on wheels who was completely disoriented,” said an anonymous Wallingford resident.
“She couldn’t find her way out of the exit through the path onto church lane. She said it was so dark she couldn’t find it.
“The last couple of evenings I’ve popped in Waitrose if there are no lights from people's cars it actually is very dark, especially if you already have impaired vision.
“I did help the woman find her way, but it really could do with a light at the entrance of the path from the car park.”
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The issue has been reported to the supermarket brand, but it has yet to be resolved as of yet with councillors now getting involved.
Steve Holder, town councillor for Wallingford, revealed that he actually witnessed one customer fall over in the car park and he helped them out due to the issue with the lighting.
“I think the car park and lighting is Waitrose, but fix my street should help identify,” he said.
“I did report to a manager in Waitrose last week as I helped someone who had fallen over.
“There are a number of bulbs out and a couple of trees shielding the light and he [the Waitrose manager] did say he was going to get it looked at.”
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Upon hearing about locals’ issues with the car park, the Oxford Mail and Wallingford Herald approached Waitrose for further information.
A spokesperson for the supermarket brand said: “We recognise that our car park is really well used within our community and welcome all feedback.
“We’re making arrangements for the timings on the lights to be extended outside of our opening hours and would like to thank our customers for their patience while we resolve this.”
The Oxford Mail and Wallingford Herald have also approached South Oxfordshire District Council for comment on the ongoing issue.
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