Mayflower West car park to be demolished

Mayflower West car park is to be demolished and a new surface level car park created, Plymouth City Council has announced.

Structural survey consultants have been on site to draw up a demolition plan for the structure which was closed in September following a structural review.

The car park, which was built in 1965, is the oldest major car park in the city centre and although it had major strengthening works carried out in 2004, its condition has deteriorated more quickly than anticipated.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mark Lowry said: "We are taking decisive action and this car park will be knocked down. However we are acutely aware that timing is everything, which is why demolition will not start until after the Christmas period and January sales."

Signs have been put up on access roads to the car park directing drivers to nearby alternatives, which include the 1,094-space Western Approach car park, the 290-space Mayflower East car park, 612-space Theatre Royal car park as well as encouraging people to use the Park and Ride bus from Milehouse.

Demolishing a structure in a busy city centre is a complex process. The Council is approaching leaseholders of the buildings surrounding the car park as well as looking at legal issues around access and funding arrangements. It is also starting a procurement process for the demolition contract.

Work on the demolition and to prepare the new ground level car park will start as soon as practically possible following the busy Christmas and January sales period. The exact start date will depend on selection of contractors and finalisation of the design of the new scheme.

Councillor Lowry added: "We are talking to the businesses near this car park and will keep them up to speed with this project. We want to get this problem resolved as soon as possible, but are aware that work around Christmas and New Year could have an impact on the sales and deliveries."

The Council has already announced a package of free parking measures for late night shopping leading up to at Christmas, which could help alleviate the inconvenience the closure of the car park has caused.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport added: "The Christmas parking package is designed to encourage shoppers to make the West End part of their seasonal shopping experience."

He added: "Our intention is to replace Mayflower car park with a surface level car park while we look at long term answers. Although it will be smaller, it will be an open, more welcoming space for customers than the rather bleak and gloomy structure we are now being forced to take down."

Mayflower West was typical of many car parks of the 1960s and 1970s which were put up hastily as the car use expanded massively.