Bracknell town centre car park to close next week
High St car park will close permanently due to safety fears
A Bracknell town centre car park will close permanently next week.
High Street Car Park will shut on the 31st October due to structural safety issues.
The council’s executive agreed to close the car park at its July meeting. This was after independent surveyor reports showed the structure is corroding and cannot be fixed.
The car park can be used safely until 9pm on Tuesday 31 October. Anyone who parks there on Tuesday 31 October must have removed their vehicle by 9pm, when a full closure and decommissioning process will begin.
Structural engineers have advised that the businesses under High Street car park can remain in place safely until 2025, subject to regular inspections.
Kevin Gibbs, executive director for delivery, said:
“High Street car park is due to close permanently on Tuesday 31 October. Residents and town centre visitors can still use the car park that day but we kindly ask that you move your vehicle by 9pm to avoid it being shut in.
“Alternatively, Bracknell town centre has both a bus and train station and so visitors could travel in by public transport instead of taking the car. We’re also lucky to have good pedestrian and cycle routes into and out of the town centre.
“If you access Shopmobility via High Street car park currently, please use Princess Square car park from Wednesday 1 November instead.”
“There are plenty of alternative car parks in Bracknell town centre to use from Wednesday 1 November. Only The Avenue car park ever reaches capacity, so drivers should still be able to find a space relatively easily.
High Street car park is mainly used by council staff working in the nearby Time Square office and a handful of monthly season ticket holders. It is not the car park of choice for shoppers or those visiting The Lexicon. Council staff and season ticket holders have been made aware of the imminent closure.
The site will be added to the town centre masterplan for regeneration – it is too soon to say what may be placed on the site in the future.