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Towcester car park to get new lease of life

The old Co-op car park in Towcester is due to be renamed the Sponne Arcade Short Stay Car Park after South Northants Council (SNC) purchased the land last year. - Pictured Councillor Ian McCord leader of SNC last September.

The old Co-op car park in Towcester is due to be renamed the Sponne Arcade Short Stay Car Park after South Northants Council (SNC) purchased the land last year.

The Co-op Supermarket off Richmond Road had been unoccupied for some time and SNC were keen to ensure the land remained as a car park offering free parking for residents and visitors.

The car park will be completely refurbished as part of SNC’s plan to provide more and better parking in the town.

Overgrown trees and shrubs have already been cut back, and a CCTV camera installed to make parking safer.  Work to increase the number of parking spaces from 70 to 150 will begin later this year.

The new layout will include 17 disabled bays, 6 motorbike spaces and initially 4 electric charging bays, with scope to increase should demand for more charging points grow.

The plans will also see the public toilets refurbished and opened after being closed for over 10 years.

There will also be the addition of street furniture and landscaping to create a pleasant environment for users.

Councillor Phil Bignell, SNC portfolio holder for planning said: “Parking is so important to a town like Towcester.  By creating a safe, pleasant and convenient car park for our residents and visitors to the town we are supporting our many local businesses who depend on this footfall for their survival.

“We’ve made huge improvements to Towcester in recent years with the Moat Lane regeneration, and I’m delighted that we now have this exciting opportunity to improve the town further.”

The long-term plan is that this space can also be used for markets or events.

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Comments

Paul D

At 11:48 on 26th March 2021, Paul D commented:

Is the supermarket building being demolished? from the information here it seems not. This would make a superb area for use as a social / market area with amenities provided my local businesses for drinks & snacks and even more parking area. It seems that the lkelyhood of this building being let in its entirety is slim so will just remain as an eyesore and a pallette for grafitti artists.

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Michael B

At 16:20 on 31st March 2022, Michael B commented:

I thought it was to be demolished - there was a planning notice stuck to the building some time back, but it has now disappeared. I've also noticed that street lighting has been installed, some of it fixed to the building with the wiring weaving through its walls, so I presume it is to remain. It is beginning to look rather derelict, but I suppose flattening it would cost a fair bit.

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