More and more retailers in Bonn are securing their carparks against use by people who are not their customers. Those who leave their cars without going shopping or who are away too long are having to dip into their pockets.

“It is important to us to guarantee sufficient parking spaces to customers during opening hours,” said Katharina Ryske from Lidl, when explaining the discount retailer’s policy. Special signs notify customers of the maximum parking time. “In a few outlets – mostly in the city centre – our parking places are managed by external contractors. The handling fee for parking offenders can amount to Euro 15,” explained the spokeswoman. In some places – such as in Hausdorffstraße in Kessenich - the customer parking is sealed with a gate after the shop closes.

Aldi is also no longer relying on signs. The discounter sometimes secures its grounds with barriers, fences or gates. If that does not work, tougher measures will be taken. “We have engaged a company to manage the car parks at our outlets in Bad Godesberg (Bonner Straße), Nordstadt (Brühler Straße) and in Plittersdorf (Kennedyallee),” said Lina Unterbörsch for Aldi Süd. She explained the measures were being taken solely to allow sufficient parking for customers.

There is no general rule at Edeka. Stephan Steves, managing director of Edeka Rhein-Ruhr, said the matter was decided on an individual basis, but to date there had been no problems with parking offenders. Car parks were therefore not patrolled by private companies. “We would only do that under special circumstances. But we do regularly check that our customers find sufficient free parking bays.”

The parking offender in Hausdorffstraße had no choice on the evening in question but to head home on foot. He was first able to access his car the following morning.

(Original text: Gabriele Immenkeppel. Translated by Kate Carey.)