Multi-storey car park work could begin in new year

Council leader Simon Cook is hopeful that work on the £5 million multi-storey car park in Canterbury’s Station Road West will start in the new year.

The authority is planning to replace the 129-space surface car park with a 400-space car park over three levels and a row of shops facing the street.

Members of the policy and resources committee were last night (Wednesday) poised to push the scheme a step closer to reality by recommending that a final decision on the future of the project is taken at the full council next week.

Speaking ahead of last night’s meeting, Cllr Cook said: “This has been through other committees and I don’t see any reason for it not to move forward.

“But even if it is approved, it would still need to go through the full planning process and since we are making the application to ourselves, it has be done properly.

“I would still hope, however, that we would be in a position to start work on it in the new year, but nothing is for certain and there may be architectural or archaeological issues to deal with.”

The Conservative insists that the construction of the car park, which is due to last around six months, can be done without the need to close Station Road.

“That would be ridiculous and cause too many problems,” he said.

The car park is being built to meet rising demand from commuters using Canterbury West.

A report by the council’s transportation manager Richard Moore went before councillors last night.

It said: “Canterbury West railway station is now the primary rail hub for Canterbury, and the car parks managed by ourselves and Network Rail are fully used.

“Network Rail and Southeastern have evidence to show that the potential growth in rail traffic from Canterbury West is significant in future years, and that it may be held back by the lack of adequate parking at the station.

“We are also keen to recognise the development of St Dunstan’s and St Peter’s Street as centres of small trader retail activity, and to provide good short term parking for shoppers. Providing a multi-storey car park would meet the current parking need and provide the most cost effective and practical solution to meet future demand in the area.”

Westgate ward Lib Dem councillor Michael Dixey admits he has reservations about the project.

He said: “At the moment there aren’t pollution problems in Station Road West.

“But building this with three floors on either side of the road will create a canyon effect which means pollution cannot escape so easily.

“We will have to wait to find out what kind of design is being proposed and whether it allows air to pass through it.”

The proposed car park is likely to go before the full council when it meets at the Guildhall at 7pm on Thursday, July 21.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, Estuary View Business Park, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.

Station Road West car park