WORK is scheduled to finish tomorrow (Friday, February 24) on the completion of an overflow car park in Tenbury.

The car park on Palmers Meadow will serve as an overflow and will only be used when there is a need for extra spaces.

It is intended to be used at busy times such as when major festivals and events are taking place.

These will include the Apple Fest and Mistletoe Festival.

In the past these major events have resulted in visitors not being able to park in Tenbury and therefore having to park outside the town or abort their visit.

The work has been paid for by Worcestershire County Council but the car park will be run by Tenbury Town Council which runs the car park at Palmers Meadow adjacent to the swimming pool and leisure centre.

It is more than two years since the overflow car park was first promised in part to replace spaces that have been lost because of the building of the new Tesco store on the former Cattle Market site which at one time served as an unofficial parking area.

However, it was delayed because Tesco put off starting on the new supermarket for an extended period.

In January 2015 Ken Pollock, who represents Tenbury on Worcestershire County Council, promised that work on the overflow parking area had been put on ice but not abandoned.

The new overflow area will provide parking for 65 cars.

Cars will park on a special hard-standing through which grass will grow and therefore when it is not in use for parking the area will be available for use for sport and recreation.

Mark Willis, Mayor of Tenbury has welcomed the additional parking spaces.

“The overflow car park will be completed on Friday (February 24),” said Ken Pollock.

“It will be available for immediate use.

“The black slabs can support vehicles and within the structures there is soil that will contain grass seed, so the grass will grow to cover the black base in due course and blend with the playing field.

“It will not be necessary to allow the grass seedlings to establish themselves before the car park is open. My understanding from the mayor Mark Willis is that the town council, who will administer the car park, will want to open it as soon as possible to relieve congestion during the public realm works.

“The cost of the overflow car park will be met by Worcestershire County Council but the whole thing is being handed over to the town council.

“I understand that there will be removable fences around the reinforced area, to limit the car parking to the right places. When the car park is not in use, these can be removed, so there will be no restriction on walking or running over the car park area.”

Additional parking places in Tenbury were also provided with the removal last year of the waste disposal facility to the Business Park.

People visiting Tenbury will also be able to use the new car park for a limited period at the Tesco supermarket that is due to open at the end of April.