MORE than a quarter of the parking spaces at a popular Christchurch car park will be blocked off until November while building work is carried out at the council offices.

The car park at the front of the civic offices in Bridge Street offers 40 bays for pay and display customers and permit holders.

However the council has agreed to block off eleven parking bays and four disabled spaces until November while building work takes place inside the building.

Although according to a spokesman from the council two bays in the rest of the car park have also been designated as disabled bays.

Overall, there are now just 25 bays for the public.

This loss of parking has left many business owners in the area furious, as they claim it is affecting their businesses and disrupting other traders.

Mike Vincent, who owns South Coast Marine in Bridge Street opposite the car park, said he has suffered a loss in trade as customers can’t find a place to park.

“I know some of the restaurants in the street have also been affected with customers doing a lap of the full car park before driving off somewhere else,” said Mr Vincent, 81.

“It just makes no sense because there is a massive car park at the back of the civic offices where the builders could have set up.

“Instead they are using the front car park which is very popular and also vital in the town.”

Mr Vincent is also annoyed because he has struggled to find a place to park, despite paying nearly £400 for an annual permit.

And when he contacted the council to complain, no one got back to him.

Lindsay Cass, head of property and engineering at the council, said: “The purchase of a parking permit does not guarantee that spaces will always be available.

“But anyone with a parking permit for the front car park is able to use the car park at the rear of the civic offices or the car park next to Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre.

“We have called Mr Vincent to explain the situation and have apologised for the fact that he has not been contacted before now.

“The car park will be returned to its original state in November.“