Multi-storey makeover 'to improve city parking'

Councillor Joshua Wells says the changes will make parking more convenient

A multi-storey car park in Lincoln is due to get a major upgrade, weeks after the city council faced criticism for putting up charges.

Lincoln Central Car Park will have new payment systems and cameras installed during a two-week project, starting on 8 October.

Councillor Joshua Wells said: "While there may be minor disruption during the installation, the long-term benefits will make parking in the city centre much more convenient."

Parking fees rose by between 10p and 30p earlier this month to help pay for improvements at two leisure centres. It prompted Conservative opposition councillors to accuse the ruling Labour group of using motorists as a "cash cow".

The changes at the car park off Melville Street will include replacing the chip token system with a machine offering contactless, chip and pin, or cash options.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will also be installed.

The car park will remain open during the works, but motorists are being told to expect longer waiting times.

During the first week of works, one entry and one exit lane will close. They will reopen during the second week, when the remaining lanes will be shut.

The council has said it is making a six-figure investment in the car park

The increased parking charges, which were announced last week, are expected to bring in an extra £1m by 2030. An hour's stay has gone up from £2.30 to £2.40, with 24 hours rising from £9.80 to £10.

Council documents showed this would help offset the cost of refitting Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres, following the collapse of management firm Active Nation in April.

Council leader Naomi Tweddle said prices would not go up unexpectedly again unless there was good reason to do it, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The leisure industry is facing all sorts of problems at the moment," she told a meeting of the council on Tuesday. "As a responsible council, we have got to think about funding and have reserves put aside for a situation like this."

But last week, Conservative councillor Tom Dyer said councils should be backing struggling high streets, adding: "The city council continues to rely on its cash cow – our local car parks – for bailouts."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices