Three Lincoln car parks closed, but council shelves plans for temporary 600-space facility

The City of Lincoln Council has not proceeded with its plans to open a large new Lincoln car park, which promised to help ease the loss of 800 spaces in the city centre when Transport Hub work began.

Three city centre car parks closed on Tuesday, August 30 after work commenced on the £30 million Lincoln Transport Hub – Sincil Street, Thornbridge and NCP St Mary’s Street.

Some 320 spaces have also been lost from Tentercroft Street, where the temporary bus station is located.

The car park was promised to ease the blow of the car park closures in the city centre.

To mitigate the loss the city council granted planning permission for a temporary 584-space car park on an unused area of land in-between Beevor Street and Poplar Avenue, west of the city centre.

On approval in June, councillors proposed the car park would be in operation for three years while work progressed and it would have some of the cheapest rates in the city.

For now at least, the council is not moving ahead with the plans and says there is still enough capacity in other areas of the city.

Simon Walters, Strategic Director for Communities and Environment at City of Lincoln Council said:

“There are many car parks in Lincoln with spare capacity and these can take the majority of displaced parkers.

“We also have a good public transport system and we urge people need to plan their journey in advance and choose what works best for them.

“The Beevor Street site is one of a number of potential alternatives available to us and we will be monitoring take-up at our other car parks before deciding on our next course of action.

“Lincoln BIG is also progressing its plans for a park and ride service from Waitrose and we have recently made available 200 spaces for use by weekend parkers at Siemens.”

The 200-space Siemens staff car park on Waterside North has been opened up to members of the public at weekends and bank holidays.

Designs for the new Lincoln Transport Hub. Image: CoLC

When completed, the transport hub will include a 1,000-space car park, retail units and a new state-of-the-art bus station of St Marys Street.

For more details on open car parks in Lincoln and other transport hub travel arrangements, see our guide here.

The City of Lincoln Council are also tweeting the number of parking spaces available at open car parks across the city at regular intervals throughout the day. People can follow @lincolncouncil on Twitter.

Motorists’ verdicts

People driving in the city have begun to notice the difference after the closure of the central car parks. One even said she gave up trying to find a space in the city.

Michelle Russell said: “What’s happening to our city centre in Lincoln? Went today to find nowhere to park and four city centre car parks are closed. I feel sorry for the traders who must be suffering. I gave up looking after another three were full.”

Roger Patterson, Conservative councillor and chairman of West Lindsey District Council was blatant in his criticisms on social media.

Tweet: Roger Patterson

Tweet: Roger Patterson

How have you been affected by the car park closures and transport arrangements in Lincoln city centre? Would you use a car park off Beevor Street?

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