Vicus Way car park is 'safe' despite fallen concrete, says councillor

Questions have been raised about Vicus Way car park after residents noticed temporary barriers and damage to the exterior.

The disabled ramp is blocked off and a chunk of concrete has fallen down. There is also a large crack around the missing chunk.

Asked about this, Councillor Geoff Hill, cabinet member for highways and transport, said that the council is aware and has had an initial survey done – which showed the structure is safe to use.

It is now looking to get ‘a full structural engineering survey’ of the car park, particularly that area, then it will arrange whatever repairs are necessary.

“It's more of an inconvenience than anything else, but we have to keep that area cordoned off until we know all of the details and have affected the repairs,” said Cllr Hill.

“The rest of the car park is open for business as usual, but we would be very remiss if we opened that area up without a full engineering survey and repairs to that bit of concrete.”

He added that on the face of it, the damage appears to be ‘a bit of surface spalling.’

This is where concrete has cracked and could be a result of a number of factors, including weathering.

The surveying work has already been commissioned, and RBWM is now waiting for a date for the engineers to come. Cllr Hill expects this is ‘imminent.’

As for the step-free access, this will remain difficult for the time being.

“There are only two other options, we don't really have any other alternatives,” said Cllr Hill

“[People needing step-free access] could come around to the access on the other side of the car park, which is really very inconvenient for them.

“I'd recommend using the pedestrian access, which is a ramp to the side. That takes them onto the ground floor where the disabled parking is.”

Cllr Hill is expecting progress to have been made on the survey and resultant work by the middle of next month.