Stourbridge Crown Centre car park demolished

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-XJU6FJrE&feature=youtu.be

Going, going, gone – a multi-storey car park in a Black Country town came to an explosive end as it was reduced to rubble to herald a milestone in a multi-million regeneration project.

The skyline of Stourbridge was changed forever as the building was demolished within seconds using powerful explosives yesterday.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the demolition

Contractors were today beginning the task of clearing the site of around 9,000 tons of rubble and reopening town centre streets to commuters and traders. The car park and neighbouring Crown Centre are being demolished to make way for a new £50 million shopping centre and Tesco store.

More than 120 people had to be evacuated from nearby homes including Baylie Court at 8am ahead of the car park's explosive finale two hours later. Many were at St Thomas's Church Hall, in Market Street, where food and hot drinks had been laid on by construction firm Bowmer and Kirkland.

Retired fashion designer Joann Willetts, aged 83, was one of those evacuated from Baylie Court, and added: "I'm glad it has gone. I'm just hoping that the new building there is better to look at." About 30kg of high speed ex-plosives were laid inside the ailing concrete car park by demolition experts.

A huge plume of dust was sent into the sky when the car park was brought down to gasps from those who had gathered behind cordons to watch.

Dudley Council leader, Councillor Les Jones, today said Bell Street car park was an eyesore, adding: "This is a very visible sign that change is happening in Stourbridge."

Work to clear the site is expected to take four weeks while demolition of the neighbouring Crown Centre continues at the same time.

Video courtesy of 'Bob Henry Photography'