An investment of just over £100,000 to repair Moreton Hall Community Centre car park and create additional parking bays, is to start next month.

The work which includes resurfacing and the replacement of street lighting, is due to start from Monday 20 March and will take just under four weeks to complete.

West Suffolk Council is working with its contractors to keep any closure and disruption to a minimum. At this stage the car park is only due to be closed on 22 and 23 March when drivers including local deliveries will have to park either in the car park by Tesco Express or Heldhaw Road car park.

Part of these improvements will see West Suffolk Council work with Suffolk County Council to replace the streetlights at the car park with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) which are better for the environment

Site preparation work to reconfigure the car park to create around 15 extra spaces will take place from today (23 February).

The work, which is in response to requests from Moreton Hall Residents’ Association, will include the removal of a number of trees and hedges to be replaced elsewhere. Although people will still be able to use the car park, there will be reduced capacity while this work is taking place.

The work is being paid for out of the council’s car parking investment fund.

Cllr Peter Stevens, Cabinet Member for Operations at West Suffolk Council said: “We recognise that there is increased demand on this car park and that it is in need of repair. The residents’ association has also requested that we look to make more parking available and while the site is confined, we are carrying out work that will deliver around another 15 bays, supporting local residents, businesses and the community centre. There will be some inevitable disruption and I’d like to thank residents and businesses in advance for their patience and understanding.”