Structural support work is being carried out at a Stourbridge car park as part of an essential safety scheme.

The work will be carried out at the Ryemarket car park during lockdown while fewer people are using it. Work already took place in June last year but now more work to repair and improve the concrete columns and structure has started this week.

Some floors of the carpark will remain open during the work but people are being reminded they should only visit town centres for essential shopping and medical appointments. The work on the carpark is expected to last around four weeks. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

"The carpark was built in the 1970s and we need to make sure we carry out these essential repairs so we can continue to use it for years to come.

"We have chosen to carry out this work during this quieter period to minimise disruptions for shoppers and traders. I should stress that people should still only be visiting any of our town centres to pick up essential shopping or for medical appointments".

Floors three and four will be closed during the work while bays on floor two will be cordoned off. Once completed a number of spaces will be made wider which will lead to a small reduction in capacity, but will make it easier for people to park.

Many shops in Dudley borough’s town centres are still open for shopping for food, medicine and other essential items only and people are being asked to shop responsibly. Posters are being placed up in town centres and in shopping centres across the borough, asking people to observe social distancing guidelines.