Why no extension to car park opening?

I returned to the car park at about 8.05pm, validated my ticket only to be told by an attendant that the car park was locked as it shuts at 8pm. I was horrified! Thankfully the lady very kindly took pity on me and offered to re-open the gate if I went straight to the exit (and I am extremely grateful to her for this and would very much like to pass on my thanks).

As I waited at the exit for her to open the gates there were at least another three cars behind me, and I also noticed there were many, many more cars still parked in the car park whose owners had not yet returned to their vehicles.

I find it incredible that although the shops do not shut until 8pm Warwick District Council did not think it appropriate to keep the car park open for longer. I admit that there are signs up saying the car park shuts at 8pm but as I’m not usually parked that late and was only there because of the late night shopping it didn’t occur to me to check what time the car park closed.

I constantly read in the papers how town centre managers want to encourage more shoppers - surely extending car park hours on special shopping nights would help. Also, parking is still charged for whereas if you attend late night shopping in Coventry, parking is free. - Vicky Eatough, Taylor Avenue, Lillington.