Shopper car park to be demolished

Mr Carnall said closing the car park was "the last thing they wanted to do"

A car park with more than 1,000 spaces in a Suffolk town's shopping area is to be demolished after being closed.

Crown car park in Ipswich was closed suddenly earlier this month for an investigation by structural engineers.

Ipswich Borough Council, the car park's owner, now says the site will be cleared but revealed no future plans.

Concerns about parking availability in the seven-week run up to Christmas have been dismissed as retailers and council say there are adequate alternatives.

'Minimal disruption'

Motorists, shoppers and visitors are being urged to use alternatives such as park and ride or local bus services.

"We are speaking to other car park providers about provision," a spokesman said when the Crown building was originally shut.

"We point out that there are many hundreds of spaces both in Portman Road and on temporary car parks between the town centre and the Waterfront."

Tanya de Hoete, portfolio holder for transport and highways, said the car park was "coming to the end of its life".

Paul Rayner from Suffolk Chamber of Commerce said: "Christmas shoppers will always find somewhere to park so I believe disruption will be minimal."