Unsafe car park faces demolition

The council has lost 150 parking spaces

A multi-storey car park in a Lancashire city looks set to be demolished after developing major structural faults.

The 150-space car park, at Lancashire County Council's headquarters in Preston, was reinforced just five years ago.

Councillors, reportedly furious at the news, have been told it would cost £2.5m to put the problems right, which is unlikely to be considered.

An inspection by engineers revealed the car park is suffering from similar problems as two blocks of flats in the city that were pulled down.

Alternative parking

Hundreds of residents that lived in the flats on Moor Lane were given just hours notice to move out of their homes in 2000, before they were demolished in 2001.

The loss of the council parking spaces means there are only 570 places left, while more than 1,000 staff work at county hall.

Councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member in charge of resources, said he believes the car park will have to be pulled down but the option will have to be discussed by the council.

A letter has been issued to staff suggesting alternative parking arrangements and which urges them not to try and park in surrounding streets.

The car park was originally built in the 1960s.