DELAYS in the closure of a Kidderminster car park have finally ended after weeks of confusion.

The Market Street multi-storey closed on Monday in preparation for the Kidderminster College move to the site, ending weeks of confusion and anger about the situation.

Workers and shoppers in Kidderminster have been infuriated by indecision over the car park, which was due to close on September 25 but remained open because of a delay in the college's contract to move to Market Street.

College principal Andrew Miller said Prowting Homes, the firm which will build houses on the present college site in Hoo Road, had been unable to seal the contract by the schedule date. The car park will now be demolished on Sunday, October 21.

Council head of cultural, leisure and commercial services Andrew Dickens confirmed other council-owned car parks in Kidderminster would continue to offer free parking from 4.15pm each day.

The decision has been designed to combat the town's parking crisis when Kidderminster faces the loss of 850 spaces because of the college move and town centre redevelopment.

Construction work on the new college will start early next year and the new premises are expected to be open after Easter 2003.