Plans to open the new multi-storey in Crewe before closing the car parks it will replace have backfired because of a 'technical issue' with the new £11m building.

The 390-space multi-storey car park in the town centre has been beset with problems since construction work began.

It should have opened at the end of 2023 but construction was stopped for a period of time following an incident last June when a worker was taken to hospital with a minor injury.

The new Crewe multi-storey was meant to open in 2023.

The council then announced it should be open by the end of May – but that date has come and gone.

In the meantime the town has lost the 89-space Civic Centre car park, which closed in December so the library could be bulldozed.

On Monday of this week the 129-space long stay Oak Street car park was permanently closed.

Then the rescheduled date was meant for it to open two months ago.

Originally it had been planned that the new multi-storey would be open to take the cars from both these locations.

At present 218 parking spaces have been lost with no extra town centre provision.

Cllr Nick Mannion (Lab), vice chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, said: "The delay in opening the multi-storey car park is because of a technical issue identified during final checks at the facility – which requires specialist contractors to resolve.

A Cheshire East pay-and-display in Crewe.

"While this is of course regrettable, our priority is ensuring that all systems are fully-tested and working to our satisfaction before the car park is opened to the public.

"We expect this to only cause a short delay and hope to be able to announce a date for the opening of the multi-storey car park within the next few days."

Cllr Mannion added: "Oak Street car park was closed as of Monday 8 July so that construction work on a fantastic new state-of-the-art space for young people can progress. 

"Chester Street, Wrexham Terrace and Thomas Street car parks, which are all long-stay, remain open."