WORK to permanently fix up Castlepoint’s long unfinished car park is to get under way in earnest next month.

The first phase of some five years of work will see a section of the car park near to Sainsbury's closed off for a nine month period, starting at the end of June.

Sections of car park and walkway will be worked on in nine month phases over the coming years, to minimise disruption, with a temporary car park provided to ensure the total provision never drops below 2,500 spaces.

A spokesman for the Castlepoint Partnership said: “The ongoing programme to reconstruct the car park and walkways at Castlepoint has reached another key milestone, following the completion of earlier enabling works.

“In June, the works will move into the next stage of a phased five-year programme.

“Each phase will take approximately nine months to complete and will then re-open before work starts on the subsequent phase.

“This phased approach will enable the shopping park to remain open throughout the reconstruction and to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.

The Castlepoint Partnership was granted planning permission in November 2014 to knock down the existing structure, 11 years after structural problems were first reported.

The multi-million pound project was originally scheduled to begin in 2015, but was delayed.

Since then its “enabling work” has meant it has not exceeded the time limit on the permission, but calls have been made by councillors for it to "get on with it".

The spokesman said: “A new temporary car park on the lower level under the shops will open to provide additional parking spaces whilst the first phase of the existing car park is closed off.

“This will be followed by works to the walkway.

“As well as the reconstruction of the existing car park, the works will significantly enhance customer parking at Castlepoint with improved lighting, and a cleaner, airier environment.

“The layout of the new car park will remain unchanged from the original.”

The partnership says access will be maintained to stores during the work.

While the construction process will lead to a slight reduction in parking spaces, from 2,818 to a "minimum of 2,500", the finished car park is expected to have "around 3,000" spaces.

Problems with the concrete structure first came to light when the shopping centre was opened in 2003, with reports of falling masonry.

This led to spaces being cordoned off and in December 2005 the car park had to be closed completely because of cracks appearing in the concrete floor and columns.

It fully re-opened a month later with a temporary fix in place and more than a decade has been spent negotiating a permanent solution.