Lincoln's Lucy Tower car park is to close for five months from 25th March for essential repairs.
The City of Lincoln Council says a £1.4m programme of repairs at Lucy Tower Street car park shows its commitment to the site, ending rumours it could be sold off to developers. Assistant Director of Communities and Street Scene, Steve Bird, has been showing us what work is needed and why:
Alternative car parking arrangements are being put in place in Lincoln to help the city cope with the temporary closure of Lucy Tower Street car park. These include:
– Steve Bird, City of Lincoln CouncilWe are aware this closure will affect a lot of people but these works are vital to ensure Lucy Tower is able to stay open for the longer term. We recognise the loss of so many spaces is important for businesses, so are doing all we possibly can to mitigate this loss, including the opening up of the adjacent staff car park at City Hall. I have been delighted by the positive response from staff who have been supportive of this initiative to help trade, even though it means considerable disruption for them. I hope local businesses will realise we are doing all we can."
A hotelier in Lincoln says he is already losing trade following the decision to close a nearby car park for five months of repairs. Philip Walker from the Doubletree Hilton has had clients decide to host meetings and conferences elsewhere this summer because of a lack of nearby parking.
Drivers have been telling us they are angry that a large multi-storey car park in the centre of Lincoln is to close for repairs for five months. Motorists will have to find other car parks rather than the Lucy Tower site for 20 weeks from March 25.
The leader of the City of Lincoln Council admits there is never a good time for repairs that mean closing a city centre car park for five months. Councillor Ric Metcalfe says it is essential that the Lucy Tower Street multi-storey is renovated to secure its future for the next 20 years.
One of Lincoln's biggest car parks is to close later this month for essential maintenance. Lucy Tower Street multi-storey will be shut for five months from March 25.
Engineers have already renovated the concrete on the top three floors of the building but the City of Lincoln Council says for safety reasons the whole site must close to complete the repairs on the lowerfloors.
The City of Lincoln Council insists planned repairs at Lucy Tower Street multi-storey car park are essential to safeguard the building's future. It will be closed for five months for engineers to replace steel supports and resurface lower levels. The structure will be propped up during the work.
This is the latest phase of a £1.4m maintenance programme which has already seen resurfacing and steelworks completed on the top floors. Although the structure is in no immediate danger officials say the work is necessary to prevent it deteriorating.