The owner of a wellness centre who is fighting plans to sell off a car park used by her clients is urging businesses to attend a consultation event.
Daily Focus reported last month that businesses in and around Hassell Street, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, were unhappy about proposals made by Newcastle Borough Council to get rid of a surface car park in the street.
The plans are part of a larger scheme to sell off seven town centre car parks, to be replaced by housing.
A new multi-storey car park is set to be built at the town’s Ryecroft site but businesses in Hassell Street say their 39-space car park is well-used by many people who are not able to walk far.
Sharon Mountford, of naturopathic clinic Essential Bodyworks, is encouraging any businesses set to be affected – and their staff, customers or clients – to attend the council’s public consultation event at The Guildhall, on High Street, between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday, 10 August.
She said: “I chose to start my business here because of the convenience of parking.
“I have been here 10 years and so many other businesses have popped up during that time – there are 18 on the street now.
“Everyone is upset about these plans so now it is time to come together and make sure the council understands how we feel.
“The car park is always well-used and it is very hard to park anywhere nearby. Many of my clients can’t park up and walk to me. I’m very concerned about my business and if I will have to relocate.”
An online petition set up against the car park sell off plans has so far been signed by over 600 people.
The other affected car parks are The Midway multi-storey, Blackfriars, Cherry Orchard, Goose Street, a section of Kings Street and Bankside/Well Street.
Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said: “This is very early in the process of deciding what we will do with Hassell Street car park but there is an intention to leave some short-stay parking spaces on the site and there is other parking close by: with plenty of short and long stay spaces at Windsor Street car park.
“There is also free on-street parking for 60 minutes on Hassell Street and other streets in the vicinity, plus more spaces at Barracks Road and School Street car park – all within a minute or two of Hassell Street.”
The event on 10 August is part of a series being held across the Borough as part of the Council’s First Draft Local Plan consultation, as reported in Daily Focus.
The Local Plan sets out the long-term vision, strategic objectives and development strategy for the Borough over the next two decades.
The events will take a ‘drop-in’ format with information being given about the consultation and how to submit written comments.
For more information about the Local Plan and the consultation events, click here.
