Ageing multi-storey shoppers car parks to be strengthened after inspection
Repairs will be carried out on two ageing multi-storey car parks after inspections found they need strengthening.
The Ryemarket car park in Stourbridge and Pool Road car park in Halesowen will undergo major repairs to ensure they are safe.
Both will remain open during the work but areas will be cordoned off.
Engineers have started the work in Halesowen which is expected to take several months to complete.
The work on the run-down Ryemarket car park expected to get under way in the next few weeks and will include an extra £38,000 to fix the leaking roof which has put one of the lifts out of action.
Floors, ceilings and columns will need strengthening on the multi-storeys, which were built in the 1970s.
Spaces will be made wider to allow more room for newer vehicles, resulting in some being lost.
Room is notoriously tight at the Ryemarket, making it difficult to park during busy periods.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for highways, said: "This is essential work to make sure our multi-storey car parks remain open and safe for people to use.
"Stourbridge, in particular, needs a lot of work to also deal with the leaking roof, which is why I have asked for extra resources.
"Over recent weeks the leaking roof has stopped the operation of one of the lifts servicing the car park, which we know is used regularly, and we hope to have this fully operational after the work to the roof is completed.
"However, we need a longer-term solution to ensure everything is in full working order for many years to come.
"I have also asked for the car parks to remain open during the work to minimise the disruption for motorists as much as possible.
"These car parks were designed in the 1970s, so inevitably we are at the stage where they need to be repaired. Not only that, they were not designed to cater for larger modern vehicles.
"As part of this work we will also be reviewing spaces, making them wider so people have more room to park, which will reduce the risk of damage due to the tight spaces.
"Once this work is complete I am sure people will benefit from the extra room and improved access to our town centres."
