Lidl Seeks to Slash Car Park Time Limit

Lidl on Crowthorne High Street, open since December 2005, has a 50‑space car park that currently lets shoppers stay for two hours for free.

The supermarket has applied to Bracknell Forest Council to cut that to 60 minutes, because the original car park rules were set when the store was approved in 2005.

The planning agent says the car park has been abused by people parking all day instead of shopping, including businesses working nearby and vehicles blocking delivery times by parking in the loading bay.

Crowthorne Parish Council has objected, saying the car park was meant for mixed use by shoppers and residents and that tighter controls could push parking problems elsewhere in the village.

A statutory consultation is live until Monday, August 10. You can view the application using reference PA/2026/0673 on Bracknell Forest Council's planning portal.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter