By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Conservative opposition councillor Jeremy Moulton, has said the proposed sale of the car park by St Denys railway station could negatively impact future public transport ambitions.
• St Denys car park facing sell-off, with fly-tipping, ASB and low use cited
Photo: SCC
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As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Labour-run city council is looking to close and dispose of the 24-space site in Osborne Road South.
The car park, which is a short walk from St Denys Railway Station and does not have any charges, has faced ongoing issues with fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, according to council leaders.
The site could be redeveloped for housing by future owners.
St Denys Station car park. Photo: LDRS
Cllr Moulton, who strongly opposed plans to sell the Amoy Street car parks in Bedford Place, said he had spoken with officers about the St Denys car park proposals.
He said: “My main concern was that once the car park goes, it is gone forever and the ambition of the city is to have more local light passenger rail from our local stations.
“If ever we were able to get 30- or 15-minute train journeys going to and from St Denys, you might see that actually people do want to use that station more and do drive to it.
“At the moment the footfall is negligible so I can understand that it is not immediately being used but that is because the trains from St Denys are very infrequent.
“If you have four an hour, it might look very different and if that is the experience and we have sold the car park that undermines those efforts to get more local journeys from stations like St Denys.”
The council is currently not proposing to sell any other car parks in the Portswood area following an assessment by officers.
The local authority said there was on-street parking available in Osborne Road South, which provided a suitable alternative if any parking issues arose from the closure of the car park.
The sale of the site will be subject to planning approval for its future use.
• St Denys car park facing sell-off, with fly-tipping, ASB and low use cited
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