A cash boost of £400,000 from East Cambridgeshire District Council will be agreed next week to ensure an early start to extending the car park at Littleport station.
The council’s resources and finance committee will be asked to rubber stamp the money to ensure “a speedy commencement”.
Emma Grima, commercial director, will present a report to councillors explaining that the £400,000 needed can be found in the money held by the council through the collection of planning levies.
Since 2013 the council has been using a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to collect money from new developments- under the terms of the levy most new developments are potentially liable to make a payment.
Ms Grima says East Cambs Council holds £1,067,524 in CIL account and designated for major projects. Of this £500,000 has been promised for extending the Angel Drove commuter car park in Ely now known as The Dock.
But she says Littleport station is included on the council’s priority list and is eligible for CIL funding.
“The contributions raised through CIL are used to fund, in whole or part, the necessary infrastructure required to support growth and development in the district,” says Ms Grima.
She says the council is in the process of considering a contractor to carry out the works – the land has been bought and the final figure will be known once the tendering exercise is complete.
But she says £400,000 is needed “in order to facilitate a speedy commencement”.
Her report says that Littleport station car park is a corporate priority and will provide benefits beyond the village.
Earlier this summer the council was told work would begin in August on providing the extra 80 spaces that the extension will provide. Councillor Bill Hunt, chairman of the asset development committee, said the spaces are much needed and are a significant boost for people who want to use Littleport station to get to work.
“It will also boost local economy and make Littleport and the surrounding area a more attractive place to live,” he said.
Littleport station car parking charges will remain the same.
The station’s car park opened over 10 years ago as a way to encourage greater use of Littleport’s station whilst helping ease the pressure at Ely. Usage steadily increased over the years and it was soon realised that additional car parking spaces were needed.
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