NCP car parks closures will have ‘detrimental’ impact on Leicester, MP warns.
Hundreds of places will be eliminated, and scores of individuals will lose their jobs.
The closing of many NCP car parks around Leicestershire has been described as “very worrying” and may have a “detrimental” impact on the city, according to one MP.
Four National Car Parks Limited (NCP) car parks in the city centre will close in the coming days after the company went into administration earlier this month.
This decision will result in the layoff of 33 people.
In total, 22 NCP facilities throughout the UK will close at 11.59pm on Thursday (March 27), with Leicester losing four car parks due to the administration process.
Hundreds of parking places are set to be lost in the city as NCP’s Abbey Street, East Street, Lee Circle, and Rutland Centre facilities close.
A fifth NCP parking lot, in Hinckley’s Britannia Shopping Centre, will also close on Thursday.
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, told LeicestershireLive that the closures will have a significant impact on the city.
She stated, “This is a very scary time for the NCP staff who will be made redundant. It is critical that they are provided with the assistance they require to find other employment.
“This will also have a huge impact on those who rely on these car parks for work and for leisure, and with the Easter holidays imminent, these closures are likely to cause disruption around the city centre.”
Shivani Raja, MP for Leicester East, has expressed concern over Leicester’s main streets and town centres, stating that they “need support the most”.
Ms Raja went on to say, “I am genuinely concerned about the closing of NCP car parks across Leicester, which will result in job losses and have a negative impact on employment throughout our city.
“My thoughts are with those who have lost their jobs, as well as the citizens and local businesses who rely on our city’s accessible parking.
“These closures risk pushing customers away from our high streets and town centers at a time when they require the most assistance. Reduced access will make it more difficult for local businesses to prosper.
“Leicester City Council must act swiftly to provide suitable parking alternatives and introduce incentives that encourage people to continue visiting and supporting our local economy.
“I stand ready to support any constituents affected by these changes and urge anyone impacted to get in touch with my office.”
LeicestershireLive contacted Leicester City Council, who stated that they were aware of the closures on Monday (March 23).
They have reassured the public, stating that there are still thousands of places available for use in the city.
A council official stated: “These closures are part of NCP’s national administration process and are beyond the council’s control.”
“We understand the temporary reduction in parking capacity in and around the city center may cause concern for residents, visitors, and businesses. We are working with partners to manage the impact of these closures and consider future actions.”
Leicester has around 6,000 off-street parking spots and 1,300 on-street spaces available for public use, including key city-center locations including Highcross, Haymarket, Newarke Street, St Nicholas Circle, Dover Street, and Phoenix Square.
“Details of all city centre car parks and a map showing their location is available on our website.”
The council also encouraged people to use Park & Ride services at Birstall, Enderby, and Meynell’s Gorse as alternatives for “convenient, affordable, and sustainable access to the city centre.”
“Parking is free throughout the day, and buses run into the city center every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets cost £4.85 for a single passenger and £6 for up to five individuals coming in the same automobile. “There’s more information online,” the spokesman explained.
Those who want to travel by bus will also benefit from a newly lowered tariff, which goes into effect on Sunday (March 29) and will last throughout the Easter half-term break.
The council continued, “The Leicester Buses Partnership has recently introduced new, reduced-price Flexi Tickets that can be used on all buses in Leicester.”
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