The debate on parking continues in Marlow with one retailer saying the council is in ‘denial’ about the current parking system.

For years, residents and businesses have been calling for an overhaul of the parking structure in the town’s increasingly overcrowded streets.

And manager of Sainsbury’s on West Street, Scott Porteous, believes the most viable option would be to revert back to pay and display after a raft of customer complaints raised flaws in the current ANPR system.

Mr Porteous who is also a Marlow resident said: “Over a year ago the council changed the conditions of parking at the Riley Road car park from a straight forward Pay and Display system to the ANPR system.

“I firmly believe that the local council are in denial about the validity of this system and it is part of the problem and not part of the solution to the parking issues within the town.”

Mr Porteous claimed that some motorists drive through the exits, bypassing the number plate recognition allowing them to park in the Riley Road car park for free.

However a manager of Waitrose on Liston Road, who did not want to be named, said his customers were more concerned about the time it took to find a space rather than the system itself.

Wycombe District Council remains adamant that data taken the ANPR system shows it is nothing but effective.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Vectoring on the camera means it will take a shot of either the front or the rear number plate on the vehicle so however drivers arrive the car registration gets captured.

“It is incorrect that ‘a large number’ of people are parking at the car park all day. There are 212 spaces at this car park and with the data from ANPR we can easily see the actual usage patterns.

“Our data also shows that changing from pay and display to ANPR has not changed whether or not, or how, people park at this car park.”

Marlow Town Council has previously said it is working with local authorities to come up with a number of viable options to put an end to Marlow’s parking woes.