Closure date revealed for eyesore West Bromwich multi-storey car park
An eyesore multi-storey car park in West Bromwich town centre is to finally close in October as plans for its demolition step closer.
The Queens Square car park, which opened in the early 1970s, is to be closed completely to shoppers in October.
It has been largely closed off due to safety fears for the last few years with Sandwell Council bosses keen to get rid of the derelict site.
Original plans for the site included creating an ice rink to build on the number of visitors coming to the then-newly opened New Square shopping centre.
But the plans with firm Planet Ice never came to fruition and were called a 'dead project' back in 2016.
Demolishing the car park – which has needed regular repairs to stay open and become too costly to maintain – will pave the way for new development boosting the Bull Street end of the town.
The car park has not been fully operational since the upper levels and the lifts became unserviceable about four years ago and had attracted anti-social behaviour including dangerous car racing.
Notices are being put up at the car park, giving details six weeks ahead of the closure date of October 6, and advising motorists of alternative car parking spaces in the town centre area.
Councillor Bob Lloyd, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for inclusive economic growth, said: "The car park played a big part in the creating of the town centre shopping centre in the 1970s but it no longer meets shoppers’ needs.
“It’s not a very popular car park now and the costs of keeping it going are increasing year on year and have become unsustainable.
“After demolition the site will become a vital part of the jigsaw of development being planned for the town centre by our regeneration team. This will bring new benefits for local people and visiting shoppers.”
Councillor Jackie Taylor, the authority's cabinet member for sustainable transport, said: "We are giving six weeks’ notice of the closure to give traders and shoppers the chance to seek alternative parking arrangements.
“There are car parking spaces available in the town centre area, notably in Church Street, Edward Street, Overend Street and Thomas Street."
Councillor Taylor added that West Bromwich town centre is also well-served by public transport links including buses and the West Midlands Metro, if people are looking for an alternative way to get into the town centre.
