Council's offer to buy marina car park rejected

Published Thursday, 19th September 2019

A bid by Hartlepool Borough Council to buy Navigation Point car park within the town's marina has been rejected after the owners decided not to sell.

An offer was submitted after the Finance and Policy Committee gave the go-ahead for officers to enter into negotiations for the purchase.

This followed approaches from business owners expressing concern that the level of current parking charges was deterring people from visiting the waterfront area and having a detrimental effect on trade.

Although the 340-space pay and display car park was being advertised for sale, the Council has now been informed that owners Mandale Group intend to retain it as an asset.

Councillor Shane Moore, Chair of the Finance and Policy Committee and Leader of the Council, said: “Our sole motivation in making an offer to purchase the car park was to protect the businesses in this area and the vital jobs that they support.

“We made a good offer for the site and I am disappointed that Mandale Group has now decided not to proceed with the sale.

“However, I acknowledge that as owners of the site they are fully entitled to make this decision.”

Current parking charges on the site apply 24/7 and are well above those charged by the Council in its car parks.

The Council put forward a self-financing proposal for the purchase and operation of the car park which would have seen the introduction of all-year-round charges set at a similar level to those at Seaton Carew.