Major Gloucester car park set for phased closure during 5 month refurbishment

Visitors to Gloucester city centre might need to find a new parking spot after a major refurbishment to one of the main car parks began.

Improvements to King's Walk Car Park are now underway with a number of floors closed and a full closure to follow in October.

Shoppers will spot a number of useful changes once the works are completed.

Levels four, five and six will now be shut until August 16 and the whole car park is due to close for four weeks between October 7 and November 8 - with a number of phased temporary closures in the weeks beforehand.

The 22-week programme of works will see 13 new spaces added.

The refurbishment will also see stair and lift access improved, as well as a new public toilet facility on the first floor.

The new total of available spaces once the work has been completed will be 263.

The improvement programme, which started today (June 14) with cleaning, draining and preparation for re-surfacing, will see a number of phased closures of different levels in the car park.

Gloucester City Council said: "The first phase of works means that from today (June 14), levels four, five and six are closed and are expected to re-open on August 16.

"During this time, there will be no access to Gloucester Guildhall via level four.

"There will still be 168 parking spaces available across other levels."

Other levels will close and re-open as follows:

• Level 3 will be closed from August 19 until September 6 with 168 car park spaces open for use
• Levels 1 and 2 will be closed from September 9 until October 4 with 193 car park spaces open for use.

Gloucester City Council said there is alternative car parking available at Bruton Way NCP car park - just one minute drive away.

There are also city council-run car parks at Eastgate Centre Rooftop and Station road - both two minutes' drive from King's Walk.

There is also the short-stay car park on Hare Lane South and parking on Hampden Way.

Gloucester City Council added: "The refurbishment, which will mean creating a further 13 car parking spaces, is part of the wider transformation of King’s Walk shopping centre by Reef Group, Gloucester City Council partners and asset managers.

"It also includes new and remodelled shop fronts and the upgrading of Eastgate Street.

"This work is being done in phases to minimise disruption and although the number of spaces will be limited while this is carried out, the aim is to keep the car park accessible for as long as possible.

"With the addition of 13 new parking spaces and improved facilities, this will offer long-term benefits to the area."