By Months later and no solid plans for Grant Street car park
After announcing that Grant Street car park would undergo a £3.5 million refurbishment last year, North East Lincolnshire Council has now said that costs are still being reviewed.
Plans to extend the car park would increase the number of spaces from 65 to 339 and would also include larger parking bays and electric vehicle charging points, according to the council.
However, figures revealed earlier this year that the car park made an average of less than £25,000 a year between 2017 and 2021.
The council hopes that the upgrades would improve revenue with the yearly earnings expected to rise to £169,000.
Following the announcement the plans were met with major backlash from locals, especially those who live adjacent to the car park.
Responding to the proposal, one local resident said: “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 councils are repeatedly increasing council tax to the max and then wasting the taxpayers hard earned money for their own unnecessary whims,” added another.
The last update on the proposed plans was back in February this year, with the council still not having any further information on when works could possibly begin.
A council spokesperson said: “There is currently no update to provide at present and options and costs are still being reviewed. An update will be provided when there is further information to supply.”
