Car park boarding-up order set to be extended
BBCCouncil bosses are to apply to extend a court order to keep Leicester's landmark Lee Circle car park boarded up.
The multi-storey building was sealed up in June in a bid to prevent crime and disorder, including illegal car meets, drug use and fire setting.
The current order expires in early September but Leicester City Council said problems were still occurring at the site.
As a result, officials said they want to extend the order for a further three months, as well as widen it to the adjacent surface level car park.
Officials said there had been continued break-ins at the car park, which has been disused since operator National Car Parks (NCP) went into administration in March, which have led to theft and criminal damage.
There have also been reports of drug-taking, fly-tipping and anti-social parking near the building, the council said.
A council spokesperson said: "Leicester City Council intends to apply for an extension to the closure order covering the Lee Circle multi-storey car park due to the continued risk of crime and anti-social behaviour at the site.
"Since the order was granted in June 2026, there have been further breaches, and the council has not received a response from the owners to requests for them to take appropriate action to secure and manage the premises.
"As part of the proposed application, the council is also seeking to include the adjacent ground-floor external car park, which has been the subject of repeated complaints relating to anti-social behaviour.
"The extension is intended to help protect the local community, reduce opportunities for crime and disorder, and support ongoing efforts to improve safety in the area.
"This approach reflects the council's commitment to working with partners to address locations that present a persistent risk to public safety and community wellbeing."
The BBC has been unable to contact the Synergie Portfolio Limited, the car park's owner, for comment.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said the force was aware of two occasions where trespassers entered the car park.
On one occasion, four youths were removed and returned to their homes by officers. On the second occasion, two people were escorted from the site.
The force urged people to report any breaches of the order to the council.
The car park is a well-known landmark in Leicester and was known as the Auto-Magic Car Park when it opened in 1961.
Lee Circle was among the first automated public car parks, using coin-operated barriers.
Beneath the six parking levels, the supermarket chain Tesco opened its first store outside London.
Actor and comedian Sid James, star of the Carry On films, opened the car park and the store in front of a crowd of 2,000 people.
Lee Circle is one of five car parks in Leicester which closed when NCP went into administration.
Car Parks in Abbey Street, St Nicholas Circle and East Street have since been reopened by Euro Car Parks.
The Rutland Centre car park, near Curve theatre in the city's cultural quarter, remains closed, but has been secured by its owners, the council said.
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