MIDDLESBROUGH Mayor Andy Preston says the decision to keep the car park at Stewart Park closed is being reviewed and an announcement on it re-opening could be made shortly.

While the park itself re-opened earlier this month, having been closed for seven weeks due to the coronavirus, the car park has remained shut.

Last week a number of motorists received parking tickets after parking on grass verges on Ladgate Lane in order to visit the popular park.

The issue continued on Bank Holiday Monday when a large number of vehicles were parked on the roadside on Ladgate Lane.

Residents in nearby Marton Manor have also complained about streets being clogged up on their estate with cars due to people wanting to visit the park.

Mr Preston suggested the car park could re-open soon and expressed no sympathy for motorists who had received parking fines.

He said: “We are looking to re-open as soon as possible and I am hoping to make an announcement on this very shortly.

“But yes the car park has been closed for everyone’s safety and that was not a decision taken lightly.

“I have shared people’s frustration over this, but we have been in the middle of a health crisis and a bit of inconvenience is a small price to pay for safety.

“Some people have decided that because the car park is closed they are going to park illegally, endangering other road users, whether that is either on the road or the grass verges.

“We have spent some time warning people, but at the end of the day if people are parking illegally and endangering others it is not acceptable and they are liable to a fine.”

Mr Preston said car parking in the town’s other main park, Albert Park, had not been an issue and a small disabled car park there had remained open.