A BUSY Pershore car park in the heart of the town centre will be given a major £160,000 revamp after resurfacing plans were approved by council chiefs.
The six week project will see the ASDA car park off King George’s Way fully resurfaced for the first time since 1994 after a report to council chiefs claimed it was ‘no longer economical’ to keep patching up the worn out tarmac.
Councillors voted in favour of making the £160,000 available for the resurfacing work to be carried out at a meeting on Wednesday (June 1) of Wychavon’s Executive Board.
The decision will be formally rubber-stamped by the authority in September and if accepted by the whole council, resurfacing would be carried out sometime in the Autumn.
During the meeting, councillors were told the work would be carried out in at least three two-week phases to allow as much of the car park to remain open as long as possible.
Contractors will also look at the drains on the car park as part of the revamp and work will be carried out if necessary.
Work is expected to be carried out after the town’s popular Plum Festival and will also not take place during school holidays to avoid major disruption.
Council chiefs are keen to see the main car park for the town resurfaced to make sure it carries on attracting users.
Last year Wychavon raked in £280,000 from the car park with more than 300,000 parking tickets sold.
Speaking to the Observer, Coun Val Wood, who represents Pershore on Wychavon District Council, said: “No work apart from odd patching has been done since its inception in 1994, so it has lasted well for 22 years of more or less constant use.
“Work has obviously got to be undertaken to enable the provision of a safe car park, not only for vehicles, but for residents who use the through route as a pedestrian access from the river, leisure centre and the meadows.
“I have raised the question of timing which will be of paramount importance.
“It is anticipated that the three projected phases will be undertaken in off peak times with least impact on local shoppers and visitors,” she added.
