Copeland council has confirmed it will launch a full investigation – at the request of Whitehaven Town Council – after it emerged that ParkingEye had been issuing fines to motorists who overstay the two-hour limit in Morrisons car park without consent.
The matter of compensation will also be considered.
ParkingEye erected 32 signs and a number-plate monitoring camera in August 2014 but landowners Morrisons only applied for the council’s permission in January 2016, blaming an “administrative oversight”.
Copeland retrospectively gave planning permission for the camera and advertising consent for the signs last month and confirmed that it would not pursue the matter legally.
However, a meeting of Whitehaven Town Council heard that its members are dissatisfied with the outcome and has, successfully, appealed to Copeland council to reconsider its position.
Town councillor Jayne Laine is behind the calls for a full investigation and is supported by a 390-signature petition.
She said: “ParkingEye has been taking money off people without the proper planning permission.
“I’m not saying that there doesn’t need to be parking enforcement, but it has got to be done through the proper channels.
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“I was unhappy that Copeland council declined to take action and have urged them to reconsider their position.
"ParkingEye and Morrisons can’t be allowed to run roughshod over planning laws and get away with it.”
A report will now be compiled internally by Copeland council and presented to it mayor Mike Starkie and his executive team on April 19.
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