A CRUMBLING car park in Blackpool town centre is causing a rumpus among hoteliers who say they are losing business because of noisy, dusty repairs.
Ken Coups, manager of the Winterpark Hotel on Albert Road, claimed guests are being put off by ongoing repairs at the Albert Road multi-storey car park which is suffering from 'concrete fatigue'.
"Guests are booking out faster than they book in.
"We have all heard of nightmares, but the hoteliers, staff and guests in the hotels facing Albert Road car park have suffered a five week 'daymare' -- drilling from breakfast until teatime," he said.
Ken, who is also chairman of anti-casino group Blackpool First Alliance, accused Blackpool Borough Council -- which owns the car park -- of forgetting the 'essential need' of visitors
He added: "When asked, what do the council say? 'Essential repair work'.
"Essential repair that had to wait until the start of the season before work commenced.
"Well it's been essential for over three and a half years -- that's how long it's been closed."
But John Shaw, the council's head of technical services, said: "If these repairs are not carried out the entire car park would have to be closed as it would eventually become a safety hazard to the public."
He said 'certain urgent repairs' were necessary to concrete slabs and columns inside the car park, and that the concrete canopy overlooking Albert Road was also being removed.
"The car park is not closed and has been in service throughout the repairs, only certain parts of it are unavailable to public and this is only expected to continue for the next two weeks.
"We have done our best to get the majority of the repairs carried out before the beginning of the season so as to avoid any disruption to tourism trade in the town," he added.
"Unfortunately there are still repairs being carried out and we are doing our utmost to keep noise pollution to a minimum and where possible carry out work in the evening so that we can avoid the car park's peak times."
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