THE screens which have been surrounding Bromsgrove's first multi-storey car park were finally removed on Monday when the £2.5m building was officially opened.

The three-storey car park in Churchfields has six levels and spaces for 330 vehicles, 130 more than the previous car park on the site.

A joint venture with ASDA, which recently opened its store extension, the new facility is part of a £10m partnership deal between the supermarket giant and Bromsgrove District Council.

It was opened by council chairman Councillor John Tidmarsh (Con-Stoke Prior) after he and his wife Joan, together with council leader Cllr Dennis Norton, were driven into the lower level in a beautifully restored 1933 Lagonda, owned by local man Peter Towers.

Prior to unveiling a plaque in front of an invited audience, Cllr Tidmarsh said the project represents an extra 12 per cent more parking spaces in the town centre.

"It has been completed exactly on time and had been achieved with the minimum of disruption in one of the most sensitive parts of Bromsgrove," he said.

The multi-storey car park has been designed to be user friendly with particular attention being paid to personal safety. Its light, airy interior has no dark recesses and is bristling with CCTV cameras.

Cllr Tidmarsh went on to say: "Through the co-operation of ASDA, we have our first multi-storey car park being the largest single town centre development ever undertaken."

With the construction of pedestrian access to ASDA it will make a significant contribution to the town centre.

Richard Frank, a surveyor with ASDA'S property team, paid tribute to council officer John Moody who has been involved in the project from day one, and in particular to the work done early on behind the scenes by Cllr Norton.

"He has been the catalyst in the creation of this development often sorting out the problems in one fell swoop."