Wisbech could lose a third of its public car parks if NewRiver Retail gain consent to demolish the Horsefair car park. The company has told Fenland District Council it wants to demolish and remove the car park – which has space for 360 vehicles – to make way for a new food store.
If approved it will still leave Wisbech with 900 spaces in Fenland Council owned car Chapel Road (209), Somers Road (286) Church Terrace (389) and 15 spaces in West Street.
Currently the Horsefair car park is the only one in the town which imposes £60 penalties for failing to pay for longer periods of parking, parking out of a marked bay, obstructive parking and using a disabled bay without a valid badge,.
There is also a penalty if caught parking in a parent and child bay without a child under the age of 12.
This site is managed by both ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras and a mobile parking attendant.
The multi-storey car park is attached to the Horsefair Shopping Centre; the car park also borders Churchill Road, Freedom Bridge Roundabout, Horse Fair, and the bus station.
Access to the car park for vehicles is from Horsefair; however, there are also various pedestrian access points to the pavements bordering the site and from within the shopping centre.
NewRiver Retail plan to demolish the car park to make way for a new food store but have not given details of which supermarket chain wants to move in.
It has outlined methods of demolition to the council emphasising that “the demolition is solely for the car park and does not relate to any surrounding development.
“The car park is an independent building”.
Public notices have gone up in and around the car park publishing their proposals.
NewRiver specialises in buying, managing, and developing retail assets throughout the UK. Every day, our shopping centres and retail parks provide essential goods and services and support the development of thriving communities across the UK.
It runs 28 community retail centres – such as Horsefair – but also operates 29 retail parks.
The Horsefair shopping centre in Wisbech was bought by NewRiver in 2011 as part of £68m deal.
A company spokesman said at the time: ‘This is certainly good news for the local area.
‘NewRiver identifies underperforming shopping centres and works with both existing tenants and potential new ones to meet their requirements, fill any vacant units and generally improve the shopping centre for the consumer.’
The Horsefair has 26 retail units comprising 92,000 sq ft of sales and ancillary accommodation. The centre was opened in 1989 with parking for nearly 400 cars and the bus station immediately adjacent.
Final confirmation of the purchase from Zurich Assurance of the Wisbech centre and others in Camarthen, Paisley and Skegness came after a vote by shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting.
In their demolition plan, NewRiver says that when “noisy works are being carried out, consideration for the timings of these works will be made by the principal contractor.
“Noise risk assessments will be carried out, to ensure that noise levels for both workers and the public remain below the levels required.
“The vibration effects of the demolition work will be monitored as the project progresses, to ensure this does not affect the shopping centre or any neighbouring premises.
“Noise and vibration assessments will include items such as, using plant and equipment in good working order, timing of the use of plant / equipment, restrictions on the duration of use of any plant / equipment that produces higher noise and vibration levels, where possible electrical or battery-powered equipment will be used over diesel or powered generators”.
