Latest news with #carparkclosure
BBC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Worthing's Grafton car park may remain shut amid safety concerns
Councillors will be asked to approve the continued closure of a car park in Worthing which was forced to shut last month due to concerns over unstable engineers have been assigned to investigate the Grafton multi-storey car park after recent inspections raised safety concerns about the of Worthing Borough Council (WBC) will later be asked to consider a report on the car park's condition, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The cabinet will also consider a report to return in July to discuss the future regeneration on the site alongside assessing the progress made since the initial closure on May 16. In a note requested by WBC, HOP Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers said it supported the closure of the car park until further notice. 'Debris detachment' It said: "Our note outlines that there are risks of failing/falling parts of the structure that threaten the safety of the public, users of the car park and is dangerous. "Hence, we agree it is appropriate to close the whole of the car park for urgent investigation and review."According to HOP, the monitoring approach used for several years to manage the "resulting overhead debris risk" is becoming "increasingly unreliable at pre-empting overhead debris detachment".The car park, which is over 60 years old, was closed because of am unstable High Alumina Cement November 2023, Worthing Borough Council announced plans to sell and demolish Grafton car park, a move which had first been mooted in 2007.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Investigation after walls appear in Bristol car park
The sudden closure of part of a shopping centre car park is being investigated by a council over potential breaches to planning City Council said it had received complaints from residents after tall blue walls appeared in the Co-op Canford Lane car park in Westbury-on-Trym on 14 in the nearby Carlton Court Shopping Centre told the BBC they have noticed a drop in their income since the walls were installed, with one reporting a 30% reduction in sales. Cyril Leonard, the landowner's agent, said the closure was in place "while the potential for a partial redevelopment of the site is explored' but parking would continue to be provided. Stephen Williams, who represents the village on the city council, said : "No one knew this was coming, but it has raised lots of questions about what the future intentions are for the shopping centre and the car park to fence off such a large part of the site. "The owner must know he's damaging the businesses that are his tenants."Bristol North West MP, Darren Jones has written to the council demanding more information "as a matter of urgency". Resident Sylvia Townsend, 84, said she is "distressed with what's happening"."This car park is used by many people," she said."I'm old myself and disabled, we appreciate having a car park that's right in the middle of the shops. "We don't want to be forced to have to park on the streets anymore." As well as parking spaces, the walls also initially blocked the only ramp for people with disabilities to access the shopping landowner has since pushed the wall back from the ramp. Mr Williams said the blocking of the ramp has "definitely adversely affected some people".He added he is pleased the land owner created more space, but said "I don't think he's widened it enough"."If they're planning to do something I'm sure they won't want to run into a wall of articulate opposition which they may well get from the residents,' he said."If they want to achieve something different on the ground, the more open they are with the community then the more likely it is something might happen on the site they want to happen." In a statement, Mr Leonard said it was 'very early days', with "no firm plans in place" and the owner is considering a "range of options".He added the owner is "committed to keeping the community informed as plans develop" and parking for shoppers would still be provided in the future.
