TESCO car park is due to be closed to traffic overnight thanks to the successful efforts of a town councillor and Middlewich’s PCSO.

Labour Cllr Carol Bulman was alerted by residents to anti-social behaviour on the Southway car park, and spoke to a number of residents before approaching the store manager.

Following further input from PCSO Dave Jinks, new locks have been installed at the St Ann’s Road entrance allowing the barriers to be locked during the store’s closing hours.

Currently, the barrier at the Queen Street entrance cannot be closed due to a missing bollard, although work is underway for Cheshire East Council for replace it.

Cllr Bulman said: “The problems residents are suffering as a result of the barriers being left open are multiple cars parking up to party until the small hours. They create noise and litter nuisance.

“Another group use the car park, which is empty at night, to race their cars and bikes around. Bikes especially create disturbances all through the night.

“Also, some motorists and van drivers use the carpark as a rat run during the night to avoid the lights in town.

“We are very grateful to the Tesco manager and his staff for agreeing to close the barriers. It will start to send a signal to those who misuse the space that things are changing.

“One side only will not be much use and Cheshire East Council will need to act quickly to restore peace and quiet to the long-suffering residents in the proximity of the car park.”

Staff at the store and PCSO Jinks will hold the keys, with the barriers due to keep the car park secure overnight before being opened again in the morning.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We recognise there are concerns about littering and noise being caused by antisocial behaviour late at night at the Middlewich store car park.

“We’re thoroughly committed to being a good neighbour in the community and are cooperating with the council, who we share the car park with, to make it more secure.”