Four major cark parks are to close this week
Lee Circle car park is among the NCP sites set to close (Image: Mike Sewell)
Leicester can cope with the loss of 1,200 parking spaces, city council bosses have said after the closure of four major NCP sites was confirmed.
Council bosses have sought to reassure the public as 95-year-old parking firm NCP prepares to bring down the shutters for the final time this week at its Rutland Centre, Lee Circle, Abbey Street, and East Street locations.
The 11.59pm deadline on Thursday (March 26) marks the end of an era for the sites, which represent a significant portion of the city’s private parking provision.
The closures are part of NCP’s national administration process and outside of the council’s control, with 33 employees set to be made redundant across affected sites nationwide.
The Rutland Centre NCP car park is one of several Leicester sites set to close permanently on Thursday(Image: Dylan Hayward)
The news has already sparked alarm among businesses near the Rutland Centre, with traders warning the loss of spaces could be the “nail in the coffin” for an already struggling area.
However, council bosses say Leicester will be able to cope in the aftermath of the NCP car park closures.
Martin Fletcher, the council’s city highways director, said: “We recognise this will reduce parking capacity in and around the city centre and appreciate the concern this may cause for residents, visitors, and businesses. We are working closely with partners to manage the impact of these closures, and looking at any future actions needed.
“Even with the loss of the NCP spaces, there remain more than 9,000 off-street parking spaces in the centre of Leicester, as well as around 1,300 on-street spaces available for public use.
“These include key city centre sites such as Highcross, Haymarket, Newarke Street, St Nicholas Circle, Welford Road, Dover Street and Phoenix Square.”
Martin Fletcher, Head of Highways at Leicester City Council(Image: Beth Walsh)
The council is also pointing drivers towards its Park & Ride services from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse. Parking is free all day, with buses running every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm, costing £4.85 for a single passenger or £6 for up to five people in one car.
From Sunday (March 29), the Leicester Buses Partnership will also offer new reduced-price Flexi Tickets valid on all buses across the city.
A Family Flexi ticket covering two adults and up to three children costs £6.40 for a full day’s unlimited travel during the Easter holidays.
Are you going to be impacted by the closure of the NCP sites? We want to hear from you, email dylan.hayward@reachplc.com