Colchester St Mary's car park 'could be closed overnight'

Frustrated residents near St Mary’s car park have written to Colchester Council asking the authority to consider closing the site overnight to prevent “speed racers” from causing a nuisance.

The council has already taken measures like closing the car park’s entrance on Friday and Saturday nights and installing extra CCTV cameras.

But residents say these measures aren’t enough and claim to have spotted drivers using the car park’s exit to enter it overnight.

'Low bar impression'

City centre councillor Steph Nissen is backing the residents’ pleas for extra steps to be taken.

She said: “Closing the car park overnight is one of the requests that’s come in over the last month from residents because a number of speed racers are driving in through the exit.

“A request has been made to the council to close it overnight which I am supporting.”

James Cracknell, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Colchester, lives near the car park and has also backed calls to tackle antisocial behaviour at the site.

Frustrated - James Cracknell lives near St Mary's car park (Image: PA)

He feels the issues at the car park in Balkerne Hill “set a low bar impression of what is to come next in touring one of Britain’s newest cities”.

The election hopeful said: “As the principal car park that serves Colchester’s landmark and arts quarter, including Jumbo, the Mercury, Colchester Arts Centre, and Odeon cinema, it is a real travesty that it has been allowed to become a hot spot for antisocial behaviour, drug taking, and vehicle-related nuisance.”

Call to extend Colchester Park and Ride hours

Ms Nissen is also campaigning for the opening hours of the city’s park and ride station to be extended which “would be a welcome alternative” for drivers who could be impacted by any changes at St Mary’s.

Action - city centre councillor Steph Nissen (Image: Steph Nissen)

Writing to Essex County Council’s highways boss, Tom Cunningham, she said the move would “benefit the night-time economy”.

“There is a strong business case for the extended opening hours,” she said.

“Although I understand the argument the park and ride is not well-used at times, if the supply were there I believe the demand would come.”

Essex County Council, which runs the park and ride site, says it has trialled later opening hours in the past but found there wasn't enough demand to sustain the move.

“The hours of operation of our Park and Ride sites are regularly reviewed to ensure they are meeting demand and best serving residents,” a spokesman said.