A CIVIC multi-storey car park at the heart of the proposed Silver Hill scheme in Winchester is to close this month after years of increasing dilapidation.

The city council will shut for ever Friarsgate car park for safety reasons on Monday March 30, losing the final 131 spaces.

The council has minimised investment in the Brutalist structure in recent years because the 1970s building was due for demolition as part of the £165 million Silver Hill scheme. Several floors have already been closed.

If and when Silver Hill is built there will be replacement public car parking.

Civic chiefs say there is spare capacity at the cheaper Chesil Street multi-storey, although it is several hundred yards further from the city centre.

Three spaces for disabled drivers will be replaced with four at the Cossack Lane car park where blue badge holders will not have to pay for parking.

Five disabled bays in Middle Brook Street car park will be altered to ‘dual use’, allowing ‘parent and child’ parking also.

Cllr Ernie Jeffs, council Portfolio Holder for Communities & Transport, said: “This closure has been planned for some time.

“The safety of residents and visitors comes first and Friarsgate car park has reached an age where we can no longer maintain it.

“We wish to make the best provision for visitors and shoppers to our city - fortunately we have capacity in the system at most times of year and plans are in place to include appropriate park & ride and car parking in some of the city’s forthcoming developments.”