A MULTI-storey car park in Worcester City centre is to be locked up at night after being plagued by boy racers, vandalism, drug-taking and anti-social behaviour.

Drivers who find themselves locked in will have to pay £95 to be released after Worcester City Council and the police decided to once again shut the upper floors of St Martin’s Gate car park overnight from the beginning of next month.

The ground floor, with about 120 parking spaces and six disabled bays, will remain open and will be monitored by CCTV.

Worcester City Council will not say exactly how much they think the partial closure, which comes into effect on Sunday, November 1, will save taxpayers annually but added it will be “significant” and in the thousands because the lights on the upper floors will not need to be switched on between 9pm and 7am.

Although the car park has met the criteria of the Safer Parking Scheme, the police confirmed it has received regular complaints about anti-social behaviour, including screeching tyres, loud exhausts, and even late night sports games in the last 12 months.

John Scarborough, head of governance and corporate support at Worcester City Council, said: “We want to make sure the car park is pleasant and secure for everyone who uses it. This move will help to dramatically reduce vandalism, litter and debris.”

Andy Chinn, civil enforcement team leader and manager of St Martin’s Gate car park, said the upper floors were closed overnight a couple of years ago only to be reopened again.

He said he hoped local people would benefit from the latest overnight closure because it would help stop boy racers driving up and down late at night as well as keeping out drug users.

A police spokesman said: “We see this as the solution to a long-running problem.”

Although the upper floors will be closed overnight, motorists will be able to drive in before 7pm and leave their cars locked up. But drivers needing access to their vehicle on the upper levels between 9pm and 7am will have to call for assistance and will be charged £95.

Drivers can also use other nearby car parks in the Cornmarket, Silver Street, Providence Street or Clare Street, all of which are open 24 hours a day.

Mr Chinn said all of the levels in the car park – a total of 804 spaces – would be opened for events such as the Christmas Fayre.