End of road for car park as builders move in

Council development chiefs said yesterday that the Waterdale central surface car park, which lies between Waterdale and the magistrates’ court will be closed in “phases”.

Work is already ongoing on the town’s new civic offices which are being built on the former site of a further education college, which was pulled down last year.

It is hoped that motorists will now start using the newly-refurbished southern multi-storey car park, which leading councillors said had been “underused” for many years.

Doncaster Council’s “development partner” Muse Developments has spent more than £2.5m on the 850-space southern car park, which has now been renamed the civic quarter car park.

The Waterdale car park will make way for the performance venue and public square elements of the CCQ plan, once archaeological surveys have been carried out.

Doncaster’s cabinet member for business and regeneration, Coun Jonathan Wood, said: “We have every reason to be pleased with progress to date.

“The civic offices building is clearly visible and rising further every day. Regeneration of Waterdale is on track and budget and I am looking forward to the next stage of development.”

Muse Developments’ regional director, Dan Needham, added: “The civic quarter car park will accommodate all users of the Waterdale car park.

“It will provide Doncaster with a safe and secure car park that fits into its new environment in Doncaster’s civic and cultural quarter”.

The “first phase” elements of the CCQ project, including the new civic offices and council chamber, are scheduled to open in late 2012, with the theatre to follow in spring 2013.