Call for answers over sale of town centre car park

A local authority's proposed sale of a town centre car park has raised "serious questions", a councillor said.

Earlier this week North Northamptonshire Council announced it would move forward with the sale of several sites, including Jackson's Lane car park in Wellingborough.

The Reform UK-controlled council said that there is an "oversupply" of car parking spaces within the town centre, and that the Jackson's Lane site attracts anti-social behaviour and has low occupancy.

David Baker, Labour councillor for Victoria Ward in Wellingborough, questioned the absence of a public consultation and called for a delay in order to "engage in a proper process".

Martin Griffiths, the council's leader, told Tuesday's meeting that part of the site would be retained for parking, but said it had been identified as a "key location for the regeneration" of the town.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Griffiths indicated the authority would market the car park, but added that its future was not set in stone.

Baker said a lack of transparency with the proposals had made him "question what this council is afraid of by avoiding such an approach and avoiding consultation."

According to the council, Jackson's Lane car park has been underutilised for several years.

Data gathered in July 2023 put average car park occupancy at 65%, with a further study in January 2026 suggesting it had an average of 43% occupancy on weekdays.

However, Wellingborough town councillor Chris Ashton disputed the findings, and said that he regularly sees the car park busy and in use.

"You cannot claim to support our town centre, while quietly selling off the very infrastructure that people rely on to access them," he said.

"If you want residents to shop locally, don't start by removing car parks."

Responding to concerns, Griffiths said: "Nothing's being done behind anyone's back, this is stage one or two perhaps out of a 10-stage process, and we will fully communicate those stages as we go forward."

A recent valuation of Jackson's Lane car park referenced in council documents estimated a figure of £1.2m.

The county council added that the site brings forward the opportunity for a mixed-use scheme, including investigating how to best utilise town centre living to increase the vitality of the area.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.