By Angry residents launch petition as Grant Street Car Park plans progress
Residents in Cleethorpes have launched a petition against the proposed development of Grant Street Car Park.
This comes after it was revealed that the refurbishment plans would cost around £3.5M despite the site making an average of less than £25,000 a year between 2017 and 2021.
But the council hopes that the upgrades, which include over 250 new larger parking bays, would improve revenue, with the yearly earnings expected to rise to £169,000.
A spokesperson for the council said: “A single-storey extension to the existing Grant Street Car Park is expected to generate a substantially higher income than at present.
“Currently, almost half of the users park for four hours or more, a quarter of users park between two and four hours, and 11 per cent of users park for up to an hour.
“Bigger parking bays, electric vehicle spaces, lighting, CCTV, being part of the Park Mark Safer Parking scheme, as well as improved signage to the car park, will all be part of the overall scheme and will support in increasing its uptake.
“With a current shortage of car parking in Cleethorpes during the peak tourist season, it is vital we cater for the volume of traffic we welcome to the resort.”
But the plans have been met with major opposition from locals who have now launched a petition against the development.
The organiser, David Marshall, wrote: “The development to extend Grant street car park in Cleethorpes is ridiculous!
“It will have a negative impact on the local residents. No thought has been put into this development. No considerations have been thought through with this and no one in the local area can see any justification for this to go ahead!
“They say this development would stop visitors parking on the streets and therefore freeing up parking for the local residents however people will always park on the streets where it is free before paying to park.
“Residents who live on the streets facing the car park will have to wake up and looks at this monstrosity everyday! It will block any daylight out for local people! ”
Responding to the proposal, one local resident added: “So whilst other towns/cities are discouraging cars in centres, our council is encouraging them. Surely a park and ride scheme is a better use for the money?”
“How has this even been thought of as plausible? These figures simply do not equate to any kind of business plan whatsoever!
“With these figures it would take over 150 years to make back the £3.5m alone and that’s without taking into consideration any interest costs.
“This is simply not acceptable when residents have expressed such concern over the plans. Our objections have been raised again and again and yet the plans are still being considered. It’s like we’re being completely ignored,” said another.
North East Lincolnshire Council recently launched a survey for residents to have their views.
Fifty people have signed the petition so far.
What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments!
