Multi-storey car park 'unlikely' to reopen

The ground floor of the car park remains in use

A multi-storey city centre car park that was largely closed due to safety concerns earlier this year is "unlikely" to reopen, the council has said.

Cornwall Council closed the upper floors of the Moorfield car park in Truro in May after an inspection raised safety concerns.

In a statement on Thursday the authority said: "The structure has reached the end of its design life and it is unlikely that remedial works to extend its life indefinitely would be possible or financially viable."

A local shop owner said customers have had an "absolute nightmare parking" since the floors were closed.

The concrete car park was built in the early 1970's

The ground floor remains open with 244 of the original 681 spaces still available.

Alun Jones, manager of Truro's Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) said: " We'd like clarity just so the public can know.

"What we don't like is negative news... our role is to encourage customers onto the high street"

The viaduct car park in the city was also demolished last year to make way for a new development, depriving drivers of additional spaces.

Mr Jones said: "We're very aware of reduced parking capacity in Truro in the lead up to Christmas and we have a couple of suggestions.

"Use the park and ride service from both sides of the city, think about other private car parks and the other service that's under utilised is the train service"

The upper decks have been blocked off using metal sheeting

"Not good for this city"

Kim Mace runs a baking business in Lemon Street market beside the car park, and is disappointed.

She said: "They [the council] have not said anything really... it seems to me that the decision is going to be it's going to be come down - to take the whole car park away.

"I would have loved to have read that they have a plan but there's nothing there to make us feel that they've got something in mind.

"We hear stories from people who've had an absolute nightmare parking. A friend of mine drove around and around and she gave up in the end and that's just not good for this city."

Alun Jones wants to encourage shoppers to find alternative parking or means of transport

Cornwall Council's statement said: "Safety is paramount and the council’s aim has been to keep the car park open for as long as possible while it has been safe to do so.

"Any decision that affects the capacity of the car park is not taken lightly and so this needs to be based on robust evidence.

Inspections of the ground floor are taking place every two weeks, to ensure it is safe to continue using.

The council added: "The structure has reached the end of its design life and it is unlikely that remedial works to extend its life indefinitely would be possible or financially viable.

"Officers are working to understand what could be possible in the shorter term in terms of shopper capacity in the lead up to Christmas in particular."