Residents and visitors are reminded that High Street car park in Bracknell town centre closed permanently on Tuesday 31 October.
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 could be used safely until 9pm on Tuesday 31 October. Anyone who parked there on Tuesday 31 October must have removed their vehicle by 9pm, when a full closure and decommissioning process started.
Structural engineers have advised that the businesses under High Street car park can remain in place safely until 2025, subject to regular inspections.
High Street car park was mainly used by council staff working in the nearby Time Square office and a handful of monthly season ticket holders. It was 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 closure.
Bracknell town centre has lots of alternative car parks available. Braccan Walk, Princess Square, Albert Road and Weather Way are all within walking distance of the town centre. The closure of High Street car park should not impact on people’s ability to park, as only The Avenue car park reaches capacity at Christmas peak times, while others have plenty of space all year round.
Anyone who parked in High Street car park to access Shopmobility in Princess Square should use Princess Square car park from Wednesday 1 November. The car park has lifts from all floors to the ground floor where Shopmobility is located.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.”
