Funding bid to 'extend the life' of Wellingborough car park

Improvements needed for the town centre car park include some resurfacing and re-lining of the 489 parking spaces
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A funding bid has been made to extend the life of a car park in Wellingborough town centre.

Councillors will be asked to approve a request for capital funding for the town's High Street/Jackson Lane car park at a meeting tonight (Wednesday).

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Wellingborough Council took the decision in December not to sell the High Street/Jacksons Lane site at this time and allow the North Northants Unitary Council to review future options for this site.

The Jacksons Lane/High Street car park in WellingboroughThe Jacksons Lane/High Street car park in Wellingborough
The Jacksons Lane/High Street car park in Wellingborough

However, until any further progress on the future of the car park, it remains the council's responsibility to ensure the site is fit for purpose and meets health and safety standards.

A report prepared for councillors ahead of tonight's meeting says: "Currently the standard of the car park falls short of this requirement and the site requires an upgrade to include re-surfacing in some areas and re lining of the 489 parking spaces.

"A capital bid has been received for £97,100 to complete these works which will extend the life of the asset until a decision is made on the future of the car park.

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"As part of another capital scheme being undertaken the CCTV camera that is located in the area will be replaced.

"This will aim to deter anti-social behaviour in the area and improve the Wellingborough town centre offering."

Councillors will also discuss a request for funding towards the town's proposed water feature at the same meeting.

The report says: "The area outside the Tithe Barn is a strategically important open space connecting the town centre to Croyland Gardens and Morrison’s supermarket.

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"Any public realm improvements to the space will allow the council’s assets of the Tithe Barn and the building currently leased to La Rocca to improve their facilities.

"As part of the Town Centre Vision officers were asked to look at the addition of a water feature in the town centre.

"Through the Wellingborough Town Regeneration Working Group (WTRWG) the location, type and design has been reviewed and discussed a number of times.

"The area outside Tithe Barn was identified as a suitable location for a modest and robust decorative water feature, although a decision on the design is yet to be finalised.

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"The development committee has previously supported improvements to the public realm in the vicinity of the Tithe Barn and the Resources committee has approved funding for improvement works that are being carried out.

"Members of Development committee are supportive of a water feature being included in this area, of modest proportions and in keeping with the conservation area and scheduled ancient monument.

"However, additional capital funds and revenue budget would be required to deliver this.

"Resources committee on the 30 September 2020 approved in principal that £170k be allocated to a water feature subject to further details.

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"Following a meeting of the WTRWG the group proposes to resources committee that £25,000 of this sum be provided as a grant to Wellingborough Town Council to carry out additional improvements to the public realm in the vicinity of the Tithe Barn Hall; such improvements to include the installation of a water feature.

"This will allow Wellingborough Town Council to decide at the appropriate time whether or not they wish to commit further capital funds to these improvements; and whether or not they wish to commit to meeting the ongoing revenue running costs, maintenance costs and potential repair costs of a water feature.

"Planning permission will need to be sought once the final design has been approved."

Officers have recommended that councillors agree to the request for capital funding of £122,100 for the car park improvements and towards the water feature project.

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The virtual meeting of Wellingborough Council's resources committee starts at 7pm tonight (Wednesday).

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