Residents and business owners in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, are organizing a protest against plans by the North Northamptonshire Council to sell the Jackson’s Lane car park. The council intends to sell a large area of land that includes the main parking facility for the northern part of the town and nearby villages.
Local campaigners, including the community group Freddie Wellie Wombles, have scheduled a protest at the car park entrance for Saturday, February 28, 2026. This action follows the council’s decision to list the site as surplus land to make way for new housing and development projects.
Local traders fear that removing the car park will hurt town centre business by making it harder for shoppers to visit. Residents also worry that closing the site will force more traffic onto residential roads like Alma Street, which they say will lead to more congestion and lower air quality as drivers look for alternative spaces.
Councillor Gill Mercer has suggested a compromise to the council, which has been under Reform UK control since May 2025. She proposed that the council should only sell the nearby scrub land and Derek Hooton Way while keeping the main car park open for public use.
The planned sale is expected to be a major topic of debate at an upcoming council meeting where the final terms will be discussed. Community members continue to call for alternative plans that protect parking for commuters and visitors coming from outlying areas.
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