Contractors have moved into Bradford's second biggest city centre car park to carry out a major refurbishment.

The £450,000 scheme in Kirkgate car park - which has 554 spaces - will include resurfacing and structural improvements to the top deck of the multi-storey building which will remain open during the work.

Security will be given top priority in the scheme, expected to be finished in October.

Surveys revealed the work on the 1970s building was urgently needed - and engineers say it needs to be carried out in dry weather.

Lighting and the closed circuit television system will be improved and a colour-coded system introduced to help disabled drivers with facilities.

Chairman of the Council's transportation, planning and design committee Coun Latif Darr said today the aim was to get the work completed in time for the run-up to the Christmas shopping.

He added: "It is our most important city centre car park and we want to make it both attractive and very secure."

The president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, Eric Hudson, said: "We hope that the work will be finished by October and there will be no delays which could cause difficulties for retailers. We look forward to a high quality car park and think the arrangements for disabled people are an excellent idea.

"We see good city centre parking as a priority for the viability of the centre and are pleased that the Council is beginning to listen to us."

But he added the traders were still strongly against the Council's proposals to charge for street parking places in the city centre which had previously been free. Telegraph & Argus readers who filled in questionnaires voted by 174 to eight against the proposals.

The Council plans to advertise a traffic order for the streets in the near future and says it will consult with people about how a scheme would be implemented.

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