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Work has begun to dismantle the condemned multi-storey car park above Sunderland’s Jacky White’s Market. The city council was forced to close the Central Area Multi-Storey building in December 2008 after fears it could collapse. The 391-space car park, opened in 1966, was closed within hours of a engineer’s survey which deemed the building unsafe. Traders at Jacky White’s feared for their livelihoods when plans to move the market were uncovered by the Echo in January last year. But council chiefs put forward a £2.9million plan to save the historic market hall and keep it open while the work is done overhead. Officials say repair and refurbishment of the structure will cost about £6million and the work will take almost a year to complete. The bill for temporary propping measures and consultants’ fees already stands at £200,000 and will be met from the existing budget. Contractors began putting temporary measures in place this week which will allow work on the car park to proceed safely while the market remains open underneath. Demolition work will remove the unstable top levels of the structure and leave and repair the bottom two-tiers of the car park. Lib Dem councillor Paul Dixon, of Millfield, who campaigned on behalf of market traders and residents who rely on the car park said it was good news work had begun. He said: "Hopefully at the end of it all the council will provide parking for the residents of the town centre flats. "The two remaining levels had been earmarked for that purpose but the council now says it has not made its mind up yet." Consultants said both lifts have been decommissioned as are "beyond economic repair". Stephen Pickering, Deputy Executive Director of City Services, said: "The work is being undertaken outside of the market opening hours to minimise disruption and will continue for two months. "The work is being carried out in advance of the forthcoming demolition of the multi-storey car park. "The demolition is planned to commence in May and to continue until December. "No decision has yet been made regarding the future of the roof top area above Jacky White’s Market." Page 1 of 1 |