Former playground set to be carpark

More parking could be provided in Newark town centre on a former school playground.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is planning to operate a temporary carpark with 60-65 places at the old Mount School, on King’s Road.

The site is owned by St Leonard’s Trust, which was approached by the council about using the land as a carpark until redevelopment work starts.

The trust is planning to spend £21/2m on building sheltered accommodation for 25-35 people on the site, and will also turn the old school hall into a communal area and wardens’ home.

Building work is not likely to start for at least another year, with a planning application due to be submitted early this year.

In the meantime, the district council is seeking permission from its own planning department to run the carpark.

The community facilities manager, Mr Jim Besson, said if permission was granted then the carpark would be in the ideal location for shoppers.

The clerk to St Leonard’s Trust, Mr Michael Gamage, said it was better to have people on the land on a temporary basis to make sure that no one entered the site.

He said: “We have had nocturnal visitors. Having the carpark on the land for six months means that there is a presence, in the hope that it puts people off coming onto it.”

He said the council approached them to use the land for six to 12 months, and they would not have agreed if it meant delaying development of the accommodation.