Plan to counter mass shortage of car spaces

Central Beds Council has submitted a planning application to add an additional 146 parking spaces at its Priory House headquarters in Chicksands.

Parking at the offices is often at maximum capacity with drivers leaving their cars on verges and creating their own parking spaces wherever they can.

There are currently 288 spaces and the council’s planning statement says that there will be nearly 700 employees by the end of next month and up to 450 are expected to be on site at any time. After the expansion there would be 434 spaces.

The application adds: “In addition, visitors to Priory House vary in numbers but could be up to 100 at times when the council chamber is in use for large meetings.

“When high numbers of visitors to the site are expected there is a policy in place to request staff to work from home or car share to free up parking spaces.”

This will “take the council into the 21st century,” it adds – although the building was only constructed 10 years ago.

The spaces would be on a grassy area behind the existing car park.