Illegal car park angers councillors

10:40am Friday 2nd May 2008

OUTRAGED councillors have spoken out against a new pay and display car park constructed illegally on Evesham High Street.

The High Street Car Park', located next to Evesham Railway Station, was constructed without the proper planning permission overnight on Wednesday and by Thursday Wychavon District Council planning officers were investigating.

Evesham Mayor Alan Booth said he was astonished to hear the site, that had been granted planning permission for the demolition of the existing garage and the construction of 11 flats and a retail unit, had been converted into a car park.

He said: "This is not what planning permission was granted for and it should not be happening.

"I will be urging the district council to do something about this as soon as possible."

The car park, constructed by a company called P. J. Parking based in Exeter, in Devon, would have run 24/7 and undercut existing Wychavon car parking prices by 10 pence per hour.

It would also have undercut the nearby station car park's daily charges by 20p.

A planning officer from Wychavon District Council confirmed the site did not have the requisite planning permission to set up a pay and display car park, and that the council will be taking the matter up with both the company and the owners of the site.

Ward councillor Jo Sandalls, who is also the District councillor for Evesham North, said: "I agree with Wychavon, as far as I'm concerned the car park is unauthorised."

The County Council's Highways department have also expressed their concern over its location.

Jack Hegarty, managing director of Wychavon District Council, added: "This car park was set up without the requisite planning permission and should not be there.

"We will be carrying out a full investigation into how this has happened and I will be sending an enforcement team to have a look at this."

No one from P. J Parking was available for comment.

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