Northampton car park is unsafe, say authorities

Major safety concerns have been raised over a new car park which was built without planning permission.

Highways officers at West Northamptonshire Council said access to the East Island car park, next to the former Greyfriars bus station in Northampton, was at "an acute angle".

The fire service and police also complained.

West Northamptonshire councillor Daniel Lister said the car park was being used temporarily.

In its objection, the highways department said: "The fact that the access is at such an acute angle facing into traffic, is dangerous.

"Motorists will have to enter the highways angled the wrong way and must perform a U-turn to follow the direction of traffic."

In a joint complaint, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and Northamptonshire Police said it was "disgraceful" that the site was already being used.

It said: "This car park has none of the attributes of a safe place to park and is fully operational whilst remaining in part, a work in progress, with deep holes, trip hazards and the debris from the land clearance littered across the site."

Conservative Mr Lister, the cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth at the council, said the local authority would work with the developer on the entire Greyfriars masterplan, and that the car park would not be part of the final version of the project.

The council is expected to decide whether to approve the planning application for the car park in mid-April.

The land is owned by Zone Developments, after being sold by the owner of the Grosvenor Centre, Evolve.

Zone Developments was contacted for comment.

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