Wolverhampton Civic Centre car park reopen after £2m revamp

It displays fresh paintwork in red and white, bright lighting and a smooth, pothole-free surface following the overhaul, which is open again after a six-month closure while repairs and maintenance were carried out.

The 40-year-old car park in Wulfruna Street now features wider spaces and improved pay points at the 395-space site.

Repairs have taken place to address concrete erosion, while a new fire safety sprinkler system has also been installed.

One happy customer was Steve Thomson, aged 42, from Tettenhall, who felt the bigger spaces were much needed.

He said: "It looks very smart and I have to say, larger spaces are very much welcome.

"The pay system is easy enough to use and it's pretty straightforward getting in and out. We needed it open again, it was shut for long enough. Hopefully that's one less bit of disruption now in the city centre."

Leanne Jones, aged 20, from Ashmore Park, added: "It's quite easy to get around so I'm quite happy with it. I think I'll use it more often. It's right in the middle of town here so it's handy for everything so it'll probably be popular once everyone know it's open again."

Ben Edwards, from Bilston, believes its about time the car park was reopened.

The 26-year-old said: "I always used to park there before it shut in March. It's about time it was reopened, it seems like its been shut forever.

"To be fair it's looking much better than it was before. You get what you pay for though I suppose.

"It was quite an expensive revamp but it looks good and is easy enough to use.

"I think really it's important that they got to work done and dusted in time for the winter. It's all well and good over the summer when people will walk into town more and enjoy the sunshine.

"But when we get the good old British weather coming back people will want to stay in their warm cars and have the heaters on full blast. I think I'd happily leave my car here in the centre, it seems pretty safe and secure."

The car park is normally open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. It does stay open until midnight however if the Civic Hall is holding a major show.

New charges have come into force since it reopened. It costs £3 for up to two hours, £4 for up to three hours, £5.50 for up to four hours, £6.50 for up to five hours, £10 for up to six hours and £12.50 for over six hours. Evening charges are £2 for 5pm up to 8pm and £4 for 5pm up to midnight.

Tim Clark, spokesman for City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "The public will notice a much-improved car park with wider spaces, a better layout, better lighting and modern ways to pay.

"We've carried out a programme of essential repairs, maintenance and refurbishment to improve and prolong the life of this important city centre car park using local contractors.

"We timed the work to coincide with the closure of the neighbouring Civic and Wulfrun Halls and have aimed throughout to reopen the car park in time for the busy university graduation season in September."

The finished car park comes as the city undergoes a multi-million pound transformation with a number of development projects.

Preparatory work has recently just started on the demolition of Heantun House and the Market Halls in Market Square as part of the Westside development.

In July, the council named Urban & Civic as its preferred Westside developer to deliver a £55 million leisure-led mixed use scheme.

The demolition of Heantun House is also part of making the 6.4 acre site ready for development. Work is also progressing on the £35m transformation of the Mander Centre, and the construction of a new flagship Debenhams store is underway.

The revamp of the centre should be completed by autumn next year.

The new-look shopping centre will be one of the most significant private-sector investments in the city over the last 20 years and will create up to 150 new jobs.

Also being built as part of the project will be new customer lifts and a new entrance from the roof level of the centre's car park.