A Darlington car park will remain closed 'until further notice' after a spate of vandalism linked to the empty Wilko shop connected to it.
Darlington Borough Council confirmed on Wednesday (October 7) that East Street Car Park would be closed indefinitely after anti-social behaviour at the location.
East Street car park in Darlington (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo)
The former Wilko store in Darlington (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo)
The car park has been closed since summer, due to issues over emergency escape routes and access for the public.
And the council has now said that the parking location won't open 'until further notice' because of further incidents, believed to be linked to the ex-Wilko store.
The side of East Street car park in Darlington (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo)
The gates of East Street car park in Darlington are closed off (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo)
Wilko closed its doors in Darlington in September 2023, leaving the building empty.
The building has been closed and boarded up since that point, with several incidents of people breaking into the building and causing vandalism over the last three years.
East Street car park in Darlington (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo)
The lifts from the East Street Multi-Storey Car Park were located inside the former Wilko store.
When Wilko closed, the lifts became trapped and inoperable, leaving only the stairs for pedestrian access.
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Darlington Borough Council has encouraged anyone to report anti-social behaviour incidents directly to them and the police.
A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “Due to vandalism that impacted the safety of emergency escape routes and access for the public, we had to close and secure the East Street car park in the summer, and it will remain closed until further notice.
"We would encourage people to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour they witness, as this information is important in helping us and our partners take appropriate action.”