Demolition starts on infamous Gateshead car park
Nov 7 2007 by Paul James, The Journal
THE FIRST stages of demolition work that will see Gateshead’s infamous Get Carter car park knocked down began yesterday.
Workmen watched over by council bosses and executives from supermarket giant Tesco moved in on the old Telephone Exchange building on Lambton Street.
The site will form part of the massive Trinity Square project that will see the current Tesco supermarket replaced and the car park, made famous by the Michael Caine film, removed along with the Trinity Square shopping centre.
A new Gateshead town centre, for which a planning application is expected in the spring, could also include leisure and community facilities, apartments, shops, cafes and restaurants, a hotel and a new car park.
The work began yesterday with Gateshead the focus of the British Council of Shopping Centres annual conference at the Sage, where more than 3,000 delegates from around the country are gathering.
Gateshead Council leader Mick Henry joined Tesco director Philip Cole and corporate affairs manager Max Curtis for the start of first work.
The work will ensure that if a planning application is approved by Gateshead Council for Trinity Square, the regeneration of the town centre can be started immediately.
Coun Henry said: “At Gateshead Council we are extremely serious about regenerating the town centre. Local people have waited a long time to see change here, they have told us what they want and we look forward to receiving a planning application that matches the aspirations of Gateshead Council and its residents that will bring new investment here to life.”
Mr Curtis said: “During our consultations on the Trinity Square scheme people have said that they want to see change happen as quickly as possible. Today is the start of that process.
“We continue to work with Gateshead Council to submit the best solution possible for Trinity Square to maximise the benefits for local people.”
A separate plan by Gateshead Council for the rest of the town centre is under way. It includes buildings and public spaces, shops and offices, and a strategy to cut down traffic and give pedestrians and cyclists better access.
