CLOSED: Town's largest car park shut 'until further notice' with West Northants Council saying there are 'ample' alternative spaces
The town’s largest car parks has been closed ‘until further notice’ with ongoing concerns over the safety of the building.
Northampton’s Mayorhold car park, which provides over 1,000 spaces and is the biggest in town, was closed today (Monday) with no reason given in advance or indeed on the day of closure by the council, leaving members of the public concerned.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) released a statement about the closure of the car park in Lady’s Lane just before 6pm.
A spokesperson for WNC said: Northampton’s Mayorhold car park is closed until further notice to prioritise public safety following instances of crumbling concrete on one of the internal posts.
“The building, which was built over 50 years ago, could present potential health and safety risks to car park users and as a result its owner West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has decided to immediately close the site.
“With the car park earmarked to be demolished next year as part of the wider Greyfriars regeneration programme, WNC will determine whether it re-opens once the further structural surveys have taken place on the site.
“The town centre continues to provide ample parking spaces at alternative car parks, with further details found on the council’s website.”
The proposed 25-acre regeneration area includes the former Greyfriars Bus Station, Mayorhold and Victoria Street Car Parks, the Corn Exchange, Belgrave House, and the East and West Islands.
The plans include around 1,000 homes, alongside shops, cafés, restaurants, and leisure spaces. The scheme is expected to be delivered in phases over the next decade, with housing coming first to unlock the wider site.
After finding out the Mayorhold was closed today, a concerned member of the Chron described the town centre car park as a ‘lifeline’.
He said: “As a resident of the town centre carpark the car park was a bit of a lifeline for myself and family to park close to home and be able to access our property.
“Without any notice being sent to residents it’s come as a bit of a shock and caused a bit of panic and anxiety about moving forward.
“I’ve been told I can park at the Newland Carpark or the Upper Mounts but they do get very full and there isn’t a limit on how many residents or workers can have a permit there so I might not be able to park anywhere near home. I'm also concerned about the effect this could have on the already struggling town centre.”
In March this year, the council also closed the Doddridge Car Park next to Sol Central, reducing available parking by around 77 spaces. The West Northants Council-owned car park, which had around 77 spaces, sits within the footprint of the planned Four Waterside and Marefair scheme.
The car park, to date, remains untouched.
Cllr John Slope, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said: “We apologise to car park users for the inconvenience this decision causes but the safety of residents and other car park users always comes first.
“The car park was built decades ago and despite regular maintenance work to keep it operational, the building has been in decline for some time and is due for demolition next year.
“There is ample parking elsewhere and the advice for regular uses of Mayorhold car park is to use one of the alternative sites close by.”
WNC advised please to visit the Northampton town centre car parks page for details of alternative car parks.