Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Car park loss ‘a sale too far’
Health centre fears struggle for clients
egraftonwilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk The agreement to sell a city centre car park has sparked anger from those who claim it will have dire effects.
Councillors voted to dispose of the Rosemary Lane site for housing development despite concerns over the loss of 96 spaces.
The decision was made at a meeting of Thursday’s regeneration and property committee.
Residents say the closure will mean even fewer places to park.
Gwyneth Wright, a counsellor at Concorde House, in Stour Street, says clients will struggle to reach the health centre.
“People need to park locally to attend appointments,” she said.
“Many clients are elderly, unwell and often have mobility issues. They rely entirely on this car park to attend appointments as it is the nearest to the clinic and offers good access.
“Neighbouring car parks are often full and Rosemary Lane provides much-needed space to park in this area.
“The proposal to dispose of this car park puts this particular business under threat.”
The city council insists the loss of spaces, including six for business users, can be accommodated with spare capacity in nearby central car parks.
Cllr Ben Fitter-harding, who chairs the committee, told the meeting there would be planned improvements at the nearby Castle Street multi-storey.
Lib Dem Cllr Nick Eden Green, who regularly uses Castle Street, said: “It is not good enough to say that these users will simply be displaced into a multi-storey car park which is, on occasion, absolutely chock-a-block.”
While its closure is approved, Rosemary Lane will not shut until the completion of a new multi-storey car park in Station Road West.
By that time camera-operated barriers, using number plate reading technology, are expected to have been installed in all car parks across the district at a cost of £1.3 million.
Cllr Eden-green said: “I’m very concerned that we’re improving our off-street parking with this new technology, but at £1.3 million it seems like it’s essentially being funded by selling off a car park.
“This sale is not going to be of benefit overall to users or to the city.
“It is a sale too far and particularly at a time when we’re look- ing to build 8,000 more dwellings in the immediate area. It is the very worst time to be looking at selling car parks, so I cannot support this.”
The disposal was approved by seven votes to three.
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