St John’s Multi-storey Car Park will close overnight (10pm to 5am) on a daily basis from Monday 1 October.
In efforts to ensure members of the public who park their cars at St John’s Car Park can consistently rely on it being a safe and clean environment, Colchester Borough Council has taken the step to close the facility overnight.
The move has been prompted by increasing instances of unacceptable criminal and antisocial behaviour by a small minority of people late at night. The behaviour incudes public defecation and urination, leaving used syringes in public areas and causing criminal damage to the car park. This behaviour creates hazardous conditions for the public and drains the Council’s resources.
Cllr Mike Lilley, Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning, Public Safety and Licencing, said: “We have taken the decision to close St John’s Car Park overnight to ensure that the facility can be kept safe and clean for our customers and staff.
“We want to ensure that users of St John’s Car Park, who pay to park there, have a safe and clean environment in which to leave their vehicles. The behaviour we have been witnessing overnight at St Johns car park is unacceptable and, as part of our new Town Centre Action Plan, we will no longer tolerate it.”
Signage explaining the closure is now up at St John’s Car Park. Metal shutters will be used to close off access to the car park. North Essex Parking Partnership, who manage the facility, will work closely with the Council’s Zone team and Oak Park security firm to implement these closures, first ensuring anyone still in the car park leaves.
For current users that park overnight in St John’s, alternative car parking options are located nearby at St Mary’s, Vineyard Street and Priory Street car parks. Information on these car parks and other locations in the town centre can be found at colchester.gov.uk/parking.
The closure of St John’s Car Park supports the Better Colchester Campaign to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Page last reviewed: 17 September 2018