Concerns raised over planned demolition of Warwick Arts Centre car park

Concerns have been raised over the planned demolition of a large car park used by concert-goers who attend Warwick Arts Centre.
Car Park 7 next to Warwick Arts Centre, which is set to be demolished. Copyright: Google Street ViewCar Park 7 next to Warwick Arts Centre, which is set to be demolished. Copyright: Google Street View
Car Park 7 next to Warwick Arts Centre, which is set to be demolished. Copyright: Google Street View

The multi-storey car park next to the centre in Warwick University’s campus, known as Car Park 7, is set to be knocked down in the summer next year to make way for a new arts building for students.

David Kent, of Birdingbury, often visits the centre and said the news came as a shock to him. He questioned where visitors would park instead once the car park has gone.

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He added: “The car park, though poorly designed for modern vehicles, is always busy and is the only car park in comfortable walking distance from the Arts Centre.

“When one looks round at classical concert audiences, the prevalence of elderly people – and indeed disabled attendees – is notable.”

But when asked, a spokesman for the university said discussions between themselves and the Arts Centre are already underway to try and resolve this problem.

He said: “They have already identified a parking location, which is almost exactly the same distance from Warwick Arts Centre, for disabled patrons of the arts centre.

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“Arrangements are also being put in place to assist any of arts centre’s elderly customers who wish to park as close as possible.

“Full details on all these arrangements will be finalised and provided to arts centre patrons well before the closure of that multi-storey car park.”

The new arts building is expected to cost around £33 million, and should be completed by 2020.

It will be designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios after the firm won a competition run by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The arts departments are currently spread between two buildings, but the new centre will be able to house them all.