THE director of a creative centre has launched a petition to avoid plans to sell off and demolish a car park in Taunton town centre.

Somerset Council are considering selling off the High Street car park in Taunton (also known as the Mary Street car park), with the existing structure being demolished and then redeveloped into housing.

Andrew Knutt, director of the CICCIC, said: “This concerns the directors of our business and the community which we serve as it is a very important asset for us and others.

“We are a provider of the daytime, and especially nighttime economy.

“Many of our customers who are over 50 years of age use this car park for safe nighttime parking.

“Removing this car park would have a detrimental effect on our business.

“Our nighttime events represent 75 per cent of our business.

“The impact would have a negative effect on other businesses in the area and ultimately effect the nighttime economy in Taunton.”

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: “We are aware of the petition from CICCIC and other requests to reconsider the disposal of the High Street car park.

“These will be considered once the petition has been received.”

Mr Knutt also said: “Removing this car park will have an impact on the Lawns Club (another venue), park visitors and visitors for events at Vivary Park, and the six churches within 750m of the car park (some of which do non-faith events) and the many parades we have through the town centre.

“As a venue that does Sunday daytime events, we have also experienced a full High Street Car Park on Sundays, from which we can deduce that removing this car park would also affect Sunday trading.

“Like us, many employed people in the area also use this car park daily.

“This is the only car park in the area that allows overnight parking on the ground floor without the need to access other areas of the town.

“If CICCIC, Lawns, and Vivary customers are forced to park elsewhere and have to access car parks in other areas of the town they may get frightened about this and stop coming, e.g. if a 60+ aged couple has to park in The Crescent car park and return to their car at 10.30pm and have to access the car park via the High St, when full of rowdy drunk people, this may create a sense of fear and stop them from coming out.

“CICCIC and the Lawns Club is so lucky to be on the edge of the town centre as it avoids the hustle and bustle of centre and really is a safe place for nighttime events.

“Taking this car park away would not just affect us but the thousands of residents who use us and Vivary Park.

“Finally, if the car park does go and it affects our trade then we will have to close.”