A new temporary car park will open today, at Kings Dock, in time for the return of the Liverpool International Horse Show at the ECHO Arena.
Opening from 2pm, the four floor, 550 space car park will support events at the city’s waterfront venues for the next 18 months whilst a new permanent car park is built at nearby Monarch’s Quay.
The Liverpool International Horse Show will run for the next four days, including two shows per day on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration. It is the fourth time the world class event has taken place at the arena.
To open in Summer 2020 the new 9-floor car park, with a capacity for 1,450 cars, will replace the old car park which was destroyed in a fire last New Year’s Eve.
Mersey Fire and Rescue Service recently concluded that temperatures during the blaze reached over 1,000 degree Celsius, which completely compromised the structure requiring the car park to be fully demolished.
Although no vehicles have been able to be salvaged, some were not burnt out and those are being taken to a secure compound for owners to retrieve any belongings.
Councillor James Noakes, Cabinet member for Highways, said: “Although the fire itself was devastating in its impact on the car park, the dock’s close proximity to the city centre meant several other major car parks and the public transport system have been able to ensure that it’s been very much business as usual for ACC Liverpool.
“We are pleased that the temporary car park is open in time for the Horse Show. Not one event has been cancelled and one year on plans are in place to ensure a new, bigger car park will give ACC Liverpool a facility that will more than meet its growing needs and help the rest of the site redevelop in the coming years.
“We must not forget that it has been a traumatic experience for those whose cars were inside and, as well as the complex process of negotiating an insurance claim, this first year anniversary will be a difficult time for them.”
The new permanent car park will be built in front of Exhibition Centre Liverpool by contractor Willmott Dixon, which recently built the Victoria Street car park.
Once demolished, the previous car park site will be levelled and made safe before being incorporated into a wider masterplan for Kings Dock.