Wantz Road car park off Oxlow Lane was closed by Barking and Dagenham Council in November last year.
After being out of use for 12 months, the site reopened on Monday (November 10).
A council spokesperson said the car park was initially closed due to persistent vandalism and fly-tipping which led to it being unsafe to the public.
Sam Dear, owner of Robertson’s Fishing Tackle in Oxlow Lane, began a petition to reopen the facility in July after telling this paper he was watching the 87-year-old business “die” with the loss of customers.
The petition, now inactive, received 1,603 signatures in total.
Repair works were carried out by the council and the facility is now deemed “safe and once again fully operational”.
The car park will operate as a pay by phone facility as previously, with season tickets available for businesses and spaces for blue badge holders to park.
A council spokesperson said: “We can confirm Wantz Road car park officially reopened on Monday 10 November following its closure last year.
“The car park was closed due to ongoing vandalism and fly-tipping which led to the car park becoming unsafe and unusable to the public.
“In an effort to support local shoppers and visitors to the area, a decision was taken by the council to fund remedial works to make the car park safe and once again fully operational.
“The car park will continue to operate as a pay by phone facility, as it has done for many years, as well as season tickets being available for businesses to purchase if required, and spaces for blue badge holders to park.
“We understand residents’ frustrations and it’s disappointing that the actions of a small few have impacted the use of the car park.
“Anti-social behaviour has no place in our borough and we will closely monitor the site following its reopening.”
