PART of a multi-storey car park in the town centre will be demolished and re-built if Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet gives the go-ahead to the scheme.

The owner of Festival Place is planning to demolish part of the shopping centre’s car park, which is currently not being used, as it requires “major maintenance and repair”.

As part of the plan, the current structure, which was built in the 1960s, will be demolished and replaced with a new parking area by October 2015.

The project would involve a temporary loss of around 250 car parking spaces from January when the scheme is set to start. It will also mean that shoppers wishing to use the Festival Place car park will need to use the main entrance on Festival Way.

However, to minimise disruption to shoppers, the owners of the shopping centre have approached the borough council for permission to create a temporary bridge to link the 540 spaces at the council-owned car park in The Malls with the existing car park at Festival Place.

If the borough council’s Cabinet agrees to support the scheme, which has been recommended for approval by Cabinet member for property, finance and commissioning, Councillor John Izett, it will mean that parking costs for the merged car park will remain at the current price charged by the borough council.

Disabled car park users will continue to receive free parking at the temporarily merged car park.

Steven Connolly, centre director at Festival Place, said: “As a centre accredited with the Park Mark award for our commitment to parking safety and excellence, we are working closely with the council to ensure visitors continue to enjoy a premium shopping experience when they visit Festival Place, and we are looking forward to hearing the outcome of the Cabinet meeting on September 30.

“Our absolute aim is to keep any disruption to shoppers and road users around the centre to a minimum during a period of work that will benefit the town as a whole and support the long-term positioning of Basingstoke as a first-class destination for leisure or business.”

Cllr Izett said: “It is important this work takes place and with minimal disruption to residents and visitors to the town.

“Therefore, I will be recommending to Cabinet that using The Malls car park is the only practical solution, providing the car parking charges at The Malls remain at the lower rate set by the council.”