WORK at the Westgate Centre this week has resulted in the closure of the northern section of Oxford's main multi-storey car park.

The archaeologists are preparing to move in before demolition work and the construction of the new Westgate car park gets under way in the summer.

About 100 car parking spaces will go in the latest phase of archaeological investigations, with service diversions planned around Norfolk Street and Abbey Place.

Westgate spokesman Simon Ward said: "Throughout the duration of the works, pedestrian access to the Westgate Centre will be maintained by constructing an extension to the existing bridge link.

"The day-to-day operation of the car park will also be maintained until temporary facilities are available early next year."

Work at the car park will shortly see:

  • The long-awaited removal of the derelict Westgate escalators
  • Shopmobility relocated to the ground floor adjacent to the car park management office
  • The public toilets relocated to car park levels three and four
  • Four payment machines located on car park levels two, three and four The initial archaeological investigations began in the summer on the southern uncovered section of the car park along with the Abbey Place car park.

Archaeological investigations in the 1960s and 1970s, before the current Westgate Centre was built, revealed evidence of medieval buildings, including the home of the Greyfriars monastic order.

The need for further archaeological work on the existing car park site has resulted in the construction programme of the new shopping centre having to be extended to 50 months.

Further problems arose when clearance work involved the removal of three London Plane trees in Norfolk Street, alongside the car park, sparking major protests.

Protester Bruce Heagerty spent three days up one of the trees. County councillor Deborah Glass Woodin was arrested in one protest and at one stage six police officers and 13 security guards stood guard as trees were felled.

The problem of providing sufficient numbers of car parking spaces in the city while the £330m Westgate retail centre is constructed has continued to be a major headache for planners.

The developers wanted to create two temporary car parks at Oxpens to allow the new Westgate car park and the John Lewis store to be built simultaneously, saving six months' construction time. But city councillors supported residents who said they were unhappy about a two-deck car park being created on land next to Oxford ice rink.

The car park on the west side of the ice rink for 362 cars was approved and will be operational from January. But the proposals for a 600-vehicle car park on the other side of the ice rink have been withdrawn. Plans to create an enlarged two-deck car park at Redbridge were put forward as an alternative at the end of last year and will go before councillors later this year.

Meanwhile, the Westgate Partnership today released a new image, pictured, showing apartments that will be built along Castle Mill Stream.