Crumbling concrete car park will close permanently

A car park in Northampton town centre, which closed suddenly after crumbling concrete was found in the structure, will now shut permanently.

Mayorhold Car Park in Lady's Lane was built more than 50 years ago and was due to be demolished next year as part of the wider Greyfriars regeneration programme.

West Northamptonshire Council shut the car park in July and said it would require extensive repairs to enable it to reopen safely. This closure has now been made permanent.

John Slope, cabinet member for finance, said: "We recognise this news will come as a disappointment to regular users of Mayorhold Car Park and neighbouring businesses, but the safety of car park users always comes first."

West Northamptonshire Council said the last car left in the car park had now been collected and it had "reached the end of its useful life".

It said a survey undertaken following the temporary closure found that the corrosion that led to the crumbling concrete would likely increase, and there was a risk of further incidents.

The council said it could not "justify spending taxpayers' money" on repairing the car park given it will be knocked down next year.

"It is also important to note that the car park was significantly under-utilised on a daily basis," Slope of Reform UK said.

"It does not make financial sense for us to invest in lengthy and costly repairs on a car park that was already due to be closed permanently."

Greyfriars, the site of the town's former bus station, is set to undergo a major redevelopment which will include 1,000 homes, an amphitheatre, shops and restaurants.

The 25-acre (10.1ha) site also includes car parks, a disused corn exchange, and a derelict office block.

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