COUNCIL bosses have confirmed today they will create much-needed extra car parking spaces in Bewdley Town Centre.

Work to extend Load Street car park on the site of the old library and medical centre will start in the next few weeks and will be completed by February 2017.

The additional parking area will create 55 new spaces and incorporate a new attractive feature with seating and planting to enhance the visual appearance of the car park, which is set within a conservation area.

Demolition of the old library and medical centre will get under way shortly and Wyre Forest District Council said disruption to the surrounding area will be kept to a minimum, with little, if any knock-on-effect to the existing car park.

They said this new scheme is the latest move to improve parking facilities in the town following recent temporary loss of spaces due to the work to construct the new medical centre.

Existing car parks in Dog Lane and Gardners Meadow have already been extended with the aim of benefiting residents, businesses and tourists coming to the town.

Reconfiguration works will also continue in Dog Lane to improve car park access, lighting, access to the medical centre and create some specific parking zones.

Councillor Rebecca Vale, cabinet member for operational services said: “Bewdley is a beautiful, vibrant market town and as you would expect hugely popular with Wyre Forest residents and day trippers.

“One of the effects of this popularity is that there is pressure on parking. In order to support Bewdley Town Centre, Wyre Forest District Council is delighted to be creating an extra 55 parking spaces right in the middle of town.

“This is part of our ongoing commitment to improve parking facilities in Bewdley.”