KINGFISHER Centre shop workers have handed a petition to centre management demanding a rethink on new parking arrangements, which they say are putting their safety in jeopardy, writes Julian Seva.

Staff have been told to park in Car Park 3 on the opposite side of Redditch Ringway, to free up space for shoppers in nearer car parks.

The move means they must use a subway to get to work, which female staff have expressed concerns about.

Before now, they were using nearer car parks at a discounted rate.

Sue Tompson, who works in Select and helped organise the petition, said: "It comes to something when I feel safer crossing the road than using the underpass.

"They have to realise that there are women who do not finish at 5.30pm but work later and we just don't feel safe using the underpass.

"I don't see what the problem is. We haven't been given any reason as to why we have to go to Car Park 3."

Staff are also unhappy at having to wait for a security escort through the underpass.

Kingfisher Centre spokesman Eileen Connolly said the arrangements were necessary to allow shoppers the nearest parking spaces.

Mrs Connelly said: "We have been in negotiations for some time with the county council to see if lighting can be improved in the subway.

"At the end of the day, we are here to serve the shopper."

Mrs Connolly also said security escorts were available on request and staff working late had been told they could park near the delivery entrance to their shops.