Residents divided over chess table in car park

The table features a chequered design and is part of the government's new "e-hubs".

A chess table placed in a Nottingham car park has sparked mixed views among residents.

The new addition to Winchester Street Car Park in Sherwood features a table with a chequered design, seating, a bike storage rack and Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.

Nottingham City Council says it is one of six "E-Mobility Hubs" that will be rolled out in different areas of the city and open to the public in the new year.

The authority said the table is designed for general purposes and the project is "experimental by nature", adding it may change following public feedback.

Sam Bird believes the plans are "bizarre".

The works form part of the government's Future Transport Zones (FTZ) project, which is currently being trialled in four cities.

They are designed to be close to existing public transport spots and, if successful, could be rolled out across the country.

Winchester Street isn't the only car park included in the plans - Bulwell Station in Bulwell and The Bridgeway Centre in the Meadows will also get a new "e-hub".

Sam Bird, 44, lives in Sherwood and frequently uses the car park, but feels the the installation is "bizarre."

"Why do it? There's not many spaces in the area. I don't understand. I'm sitting in my car thinking, what a waste of money.

"Who is coming to the car park to play chess?

"There's not even a bench on the other side of the table, so how would it work?"

Eileen Lindo, 61 and from Sherwood, added: "This is a busy area, and I struggle to park my car when I want to meet my friends.

"Why do we need a table?"

Ruth Rice and her son Bradley feel differently about the new table.

However, Ruth Rice, 59, couldn't think more differently about the new facilities.

She said: "I spotted it and thought, 'that looks really lovely'. You can sit there, play a bit of chess with a friend, it's great for socialising.

"I love it and want them all over the place."

But her son Bradley added: "It's not really a nice place to sit and relax...it's a car park.

"You'd be looking out on to all of the cars while trying to play a game of chess. It's not for me."

Meanwhile, Rhiannon D-Arcey, 32, of Mapperley, says she loves the idea but is "disappointed" by the location.

"I love the chess pattern, but there's a park up the road, why put it here?

"The bike storage is a great idea, but I'm not sure about the other parts.

"I have to park in front of people's houses because there's hardly any space here, and when you want to visit the high street, it's an issue."

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: "We welcome the feedback from the public on the construction of the 'E-Mobility Hubs' that we have received so far."

They added: "These projects are deliberately experimental by nature, so may well change following feedback from the public.

"They will be evaluated and reviewed down the line to see how successful and popular they've been, with the idea that if these individual schemes work well, they could then be rolled out across the country."