The owners of a Grantham multi-storey car park leased to South Kesteven District Council have expressed 'concern' over the 'structural stability' of the building.

In a report issued this week, council officers have recommended the council spend £20,000 on a professional structural survey on Wharf Road Car Park, plus a further £10,000 for specific expert advice on 'future dilapidation costs.'

The report says the lease to the council is set to expire in 2024, when SKDC will be liable "for reinstating its condition to a reasonable standard, taking into consideration fair wear and tear."

The report continued: "The landlord has the ability to serve an interim dilapidation schedule on the Council, due to its current condition and have made known to the Council,their concerns over the structural stability of the building/car park.

"The Council has a full repairing lease on the upper parts and is responsible for the structure.

"To enable the Council to assess the condition of the multi-storey car park, a full conditional and structural survey needs to be undertaken, including some investigational work on the reinforced concrete within the building.

"Car parks, which are similar in age have suffered from concrete cancer, which is the term used to refer to the rusting of steel reinforcements caused by the presence of contaminants or the action of weather, combined with atmospheric properties. It includes rusting of the concrete reinforcement bar and any number of concrete failures.

"The report will give the Council some comfort that the structure is safe for use, as well as give the Council some direction in terms of reinstatement costs for implementation now, or at the end of the lease."

The report added: "There is no other option available to the Council, other than to not carry out a survey. There have been concerns in the past with the condition of the car park and therefore, this survey will give the Council more information relating to the safety of the structure, as well as the possible level of dilapidations upon the expiry of the lease

expiry." Other projects, which would give a total £70,000 spend from SKDC's Property Maintenance Reserve were also recommended as "essential to maintain health and safety." SKDC is due to make the decision by Monday, effective August 5, unless councillors 'call in' the decion for debate at a future council meeting.