Judge extends car park boarding-up order

A judge has ruled Leicester's landmark Lee Circle car park should remain boarded up for a further two months.

The disused multi-storey building was sealed up in June in a bid to prevent crime and disorder, including illegal car meets, drug use and fire setting.

Leicester City Council applied for an expiring three-month closure order to be extended at a hearing at the city's magistrates' court on Wednesday.

District judge Nick Watson said nobody from the site's owner, Synergie Portfolio Limited, had opposed the authority's application.

He granted permission for the council to keep the car park building, and its adjacent surface-level car park, closed off until 3 December.

Officials said the continued closure would "protect the local community, reduce opportunities for crime and disorder, and support ongoing efforts to improve safety in the area".

Earlier this month, the council said there had been continued break-ins at the car park, which has been disused since operator National Car Parks (NCP) went into administration in March, which had led to theft and criminal damage.

There have also been reports of drug-taking, fly-tipping and anti-social parking near the building, the council said.

The BBC has been unable to contact Synergie Portfolio Limited for comment.

The future of the Lee Circle car park remains unclear but the council said it was still urging the company to reopen it.

The car park is a well-known landmark in Leicester and was known as the Auto-Magic Car Park when it opened in 1961.

Lee Circle was among the first automated public car parks, using coin-operated barriers.

Beneath the six parking levels, the supermarket chain Tesco opened its first store outside London.

Actor and comedian Sid James, star of the Carry On films, opened the car park and the store in front of a crowd of 2,000 people.

Lee Circle is one of five car parks in Leicester which closed when NCP went into administration.

Car Parks in Abbey Street, St Nicholas Circle and East Street have since been reopened by Euro Car Parks.

The Rutland Centre car park, near Curve theatre in the city's cultural quarter, remains closed, but has been secured by its owners, the council said.

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