NEW parking spaces for residents have been created on a busy city estate.
Leicester City Council has demolished outdated garages outside flats on Vostock Close, on the St Peters estate, to create the new spaces.
The work has seen two blocks of garages demolished – 10 in total – and they have been replaced with 10 new parking spaces. All of the spaces are made available for residents only, under a permit scheme.
The scheme has been funded by £100,000 from the city council’s public realm improvements fund for the Wycliffe ward, which covers the St Matthews and St Peters estates.
The new parking spaces complement 30 created on nearby Jupiter Close and 21 on Pluto Close, where 23 garages were demolished.
It means a total of 280 parking spaces are now available for St Peters estate residents, with 480 residents’ parking permits issued. An additional 329 parking spaces are available on nearby streets, for anyone to park in.
The work marks the culmination of a £5million programme of improvements in St Matthews and St Peters, after a commitment by City Mayor Peter Soulsby back in 2019 to invest in the two estates. Improvements have included installing more parking bays and electrical charging points; cleaning up courtyards and green spaces, and revamping the play area on Lethbridge Close in St Matthews and the central green space in St Peters.
Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, deputy city mayor for housing, economy and neighbourhoods, said: “These new parking spaces are what residents have been asking for, and getting rid of the outdated garage blocks has significantly improved the area.
“We make the spaces residents-only to stop city centre commuters from parking here, but there are plenty of on-street spaces for visitors to local residents or businesses. I’m very glad that we have been able to make these improvements.”
Ward councillors Hanif Aqbany and Mohammed Dawood have been closely involved in the scheme. Cllr Aqbany said: “It’s a scheme that is having a really positive impact.”
Cllr Dawood added: “These much-needed, updated parking facilities will make a real difference to residents and families living in the area.”
One Atlas Close resident said: “It makes the area feel safer and people have a clear view of their vehicle now.”
Other work completed as part of the £5m improvements included £1.2m project at Ottawa Road on the St Matthews estate, that involved removing old brick garages and bin stores and replacing them with new parking bays, new street lighting and railings.
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