Car park patrols to increase after 'smell of weed, urinating and youths on bikes'

Patrols will be increasing at car parks across Bolton after concerns about anti-social behaviour, town hall has heard. Bolton Council’s place scrutiny committee meeting heard concerns about cannabis use, urine and youths on bikes at the Octagon NCP car park in the town centre. This was part of a wider discussion about the authority’s parking provision and contract with NCP.

Cllr John McHugh, of Westhoughton South, said: “For instance, I’ve just come out of the Octagon Car Park and there’s the smell of weed. “I’ve been down there and there’s people urinating, you can smell it. The meeting was held at Bolton Town Hall (Image: Newsquest) “Also, there’s people, youngsters, there’s anti-social behaviour, they’re bringing bikes in and messing around within it.

” Cllr McHugh said that as part of NCP’s night contract with the council they should be a patrol or patrol officer at work in the car parks. He said: “I know you’ve got CCTV everywhere, but I’ve never actually seen anyone patrolling the area.” The meeting held at Bolton town hall heard from NCP officials about a range of issues related to parking in the town centre including parking spaces and charges.

The meeting had also discussed the contract that the council has with NCP to run car parks throughout the town. The company runs several car parks across the town centre including at the Octagon Theatre , on Topp Way and elsewhere. In response NCP commercial and business director Tristian Arno.