To allow Wokingham Borough Council to start building a new multi-storey car park at Carnival Pool, users of the leisure centre and Superbowl will need to find alternative parking as the car park will close from Monday 6 June.
Cllr Mark Ashwell, executive member for planning and regeneration, said: “Knowing we were going to be closing the existing public car park during the work, we looked hard at how we could provide sufficient spaces elsewhere, but close enough, to ensure people could continue to easily use the facilities.
“As part of the project we converted the old Wellington House car park to a public pay and display parking area in April this year. We also know there is capacity in the Elms Road multi-storey car park, which is in the process of being refurbished, and also in the Paddocks in the late afternoons, evenings and at weekends where demand for the leisure facilities tends to be higher. All of these car parks are only a few minutes’ walk from the Carnival Pool site so are ideal for alternative parking.”
Disabled parking will remain on site at the Carnival Pool site adjacent to the leisure centre and is also provided within the Wellington House car park.
Businesses on site remain open
All businesses on the site remain open throughout the construction period. The Burger King customer car park and drive through are also unaffected.
Cllr Ashwell continued: “This is an important project for the town as it helps address longer-term parking needs and helps pave the way for the second phase of regeneration at the Carnival Pool with improved leisure facilities. We’re hoping the measures in place, along with the signage directing people to alternative car parks, will help minimise disruption. People can also keep up-to-date with what’s happening and find out more about alternative parking on our website.”
Work starts on 6 June when the car park area will close. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2017 when the new 529 space multi-storey car park will open to the public.
The proposals for the Carnival Pool form part of the overarching town centre regeneration plans which are set to benefit the borough’s residents by delivering top quality new facilities for all. It will also secure sources of income for the council which can deliver projects and services across the borough.
More information
More information is available on the Regeneration Company website. Further details are available in the alternative car parking leaflet (pdf document).
