DRIVERS who park in loading bays in Winsford Town Centre will be fined if they continue to flout the rules.

The loading bays off Dingle Walk at the back of Argos and DW Fitness are marked with double yellow lines and parking is not permitted.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said motorists parking in the loading bay area are causing problems for the surrounding shops’ delivery vans and blocking shop delivery entrances.

For the last two months, Winsford Neighbourhood Policing team has been issuing warning tickets to remind people they cannot park there.

PCSO James Hannath said: “With Christmas coming up, there will be more and more deliveries coming to the shops. People parking in the delivery bays can cause chaos for the van and lorry drivers who are supposed to unload there.

“We have also had motorists complain they have been blocked in by lorries but the fact is the cars shouldn’t be there in the first place.

“We have been warning people and reminding them not to park there, but now parking tickets will be issued to anyone found in the loading bay area.

“There is plenty of free parking in the town centre for shoppers.”

Ricky Crellin, Security Officer for Westgrove who handle security for the town centre, said: “Most of the shops have had to resort to having deliveries late at night or early in the morning, but that is not always practical. It also means several shops have deliveries at once instead of being able to spread them throughout the day.”