WORK will start next week on the demolition of the Wyvern Car Park as the transformation of the town centre continues.

In July, workers began work on demolishing the Carlton Street Park which is now nearly complete.

It is to eventually make way for new offices, shops and apartments as part of the Kimmerfield Development.

During that time, buses have been using temporarily using Queenstown car park but from December 12 they will be able to return to the bus station.

There have been a few delays with the process but is hoped some of this time will be made back up during the Wyvern car park demolition.

Once that is complete, the footbridge over Princes Street will also be taken down.

A council spokesman said: “The contractor is aiming to have the Bus Station multi-storey car park completely demolished just before Christmas, on December 18, although they will be staying on the site to process the materials from the next phase of the work, which is the removal of the Wyvern Car Park and Princes Street footbridge.

“The Wyvern car park demolition work starts on November 30 and will be completed in March, although it may be sooner depending on how the work goes. After that, the contractor will remove the footbridge across Princes Street.

“Work is slightly behind the original timetable because some of the materials used in the Bus Station car park were tougher to break up than originally thought.”

The first task of the contractor next week will be to remove asbestos within the car park, with a compound being set up opposite.

A temporary diversion through the Princes Street surface car park for access to the disabled parking both on and off the Princes Street surface car park, rear access to the Wyvern Theatre and Regent Close, will be in place for the duration of the works.

Councillor Garry Perkins, (Con, Haydon Wick), the cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This work will pave the way for further major improvements to the town centre.

“In a few short years we’ve seen the building of the new Whalebridge car park, the Regent Circus development which swept away the old college, improvements to the pedestrian areas of the town centre, the new station forecourt, the demolition of Aspen House and the recent application for a new leisure complex next to The Oasis at North Star.

“It all takes time but we are making significant progress and we were doing so even before the recession began to lift. This shows the faith the private sector has in Swindon’s future economic prospects.”

While the work is taking place, users of the Wyvern Theatre are asked to use the Kimmerfield or Regent Circus car park.