PLANS for part of car park at a Hartlepool tourist attraction to be used for a car boot sale have finally been given the green light.
Hartlepool Borough Council has been given permission by the authority’s planning committee to hold weekly car boot sales on Saturday mornings between 8am and 1pm at the car park outside Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience (HME), off Marina Way.
Councillors sitting on the committee approved the plans, which have been in the pipeline for several months, this week.
Ahead of the meeting, officers had recommended the proposals, which also cover ad hoc events and farmers’ markets every other Saturday, be approved.
A planning report said: “The application seeks consent for the use of the car park for car boot sales, between 8am and 1pm every Saturday, farmers’ markets, between 8am and 1pm monthly, and for ad hoc temporary events which have in the past included the vintage car rally, the bi-annual Maritime Festival and the Race for Life.
“Individual events will require varying amounts of the car park to be taken up.
“A degree of car parking will remain available within the site during events.”
The planning application has been advertised ahead of the meeting and there had been no objections.
The council is looking to generate income by allowing a third of the car park for the new venture.
Independent councillor Cath Hill, portfolio holder for children’s and community services, had already given her backing to the plans at a previous meeting.
The planning committee had also heard the application before, but it was deferred for more information about car parking concerns.
The move will see the council work with Nobles Promotions, believed to be the region’s biggest organiser of car boot events.
The weekly car boot sales will be included in HME’s events programme in the same way as the monthly farmers’ market is used to attract visitors.
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