Britannia Parking has taken over from NCP as the operator of the multi-storey car park at The Spires shopping centre in High Barnet.
The switch in operator follows long-standing complaints going back months about the state of parking bays in the four-floor building and a failure to maintain pay machines in working order.
A team from Britannia Parking spent the day (14.10.2022) putting up new signs – replacing the NCP signs – sweeping the parking bays and installing new “user friendly” pay machines.
BYM Capital, owners of The Spires, said they understood the concern that the previous operation of the car park had not been up to standard.
“We have been working diligently behind the scenes since the purchase of the centre to bring an operator on board who can ensure that the car park is run and operated in a safe, clean, and efficient manner for visitors and the people of Barnet.”
Britannia is convinced its new “state-of-the-art” pay machines will make it easier for customers and will allow spaces to be booked in advance.
“Ground staff will also be on site daily to keep the car park safe and clean during operating hours.
“With positive and active assessment management, the aim is for The Spires to become the go-to car park for town centre visitors.”
There has been speculation all summer that NCP’s contract to operate The Spires’ car park was about to be relinquished or even terminated.
Residents had taken their complaints about the car park to Barnet councillors and the Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers complaining about delays in replacing defective lighting tubes and a failure to clear pigeon droppings from parking bays and walkways.
They argued that these problems needed to be fixed before the winter to ensure the car park was in full working order and safe to use during dark evenings.
The change in operator might re-open the possibility of the top deck of the car park being used for the annual show of Barnet Classic Car Club.
The club had hoped to stage the show in September after using the top deck successfully for last year’s event but was unable to reach an agreement with NCP.
Chris Nightingale, organiser of the classic car show, said failure to find a venue in time for an event this year was “a sorry tale” of missed opportunity and the club is hoping Britannia Parking will have a more constructive relationship with the local community.
BYM Capital recently completed the purchase of the abandoned surface car park on the other side of The Spires – formerly the site of Barnet Market which has been unused since plans were abandoned to build a new Premier Inn hotel.
So far, the company has given no indication of how it intends to use the site, either perhaps in connection with the shopping centre itself or alternatively for new housing.
