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Car park closes suddenly with vehicles still inside

Alex Popein Northampton
Alex Pope/BBC Shutters closed outside a car park, with a man looking at a sign. The building is mostly concrete.Alex Pope/BBC
Mayorhold Car Park in Northampton has been closed with immediate effect

A car park in Northampton town centre has been closed suddenly with some vehicles still inside after crumbling concrete was found in the structure.

Mayorhold Car Park in Lady's Lane was built more than 50 years ago and was due to be demolished next year as part of the wider Greyfriars regeneration programme.

West Northamptonshire Council said it would take a decision on whether to reopen the car park following further structural surveys.

The authority has posted a notice on the facility giving contact details for people whose vehicles are in there.

Alex Pope/BBC The outside of a large multi-storey car park, with a sign on it that reads "Mayorhold Car Park" and a person walking past. There are traffic lights in front of the building.Alex Pope/BBC
The car park is due to be demolished next year

John Slope, the Reform UK council's cabinet member for finance and resources, said: "The safety of residents and other car park users always comes first.

"The car park was built decades ago and, despite regular maintenance work to keep it operational, the building has been in decline for some time and is due for demolition next year."

He added that there was "ample parking elsewhere".

Alex Pope/BBC A sign on red railings at a car park.Alex Pope/BBC
A notice has been put up with information for people whose cars are trapped inside

It comes after work has been completed on St John's Car Park, which was damaged in a crash in October 2024.

Work there started in February after the driver of a stolen Seat Leon crashed into a side wall during a police chase.

Northamptonshire Police A crashed black car embedded in the side of a car park. The vehicle is surrounded by rubble and brickwork following the crash.Northamptonshire Police
St John's Car Park was badly damaged in the 2024 crash

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