Lichfield Civic Society has demanded to be told how long the city’s main multi-storey car park will be out of action.

The Birmingham Road/Frog Lane car park was shut by Lichfield District Council last month over safety fears.

Society president David Duffy said that it had resulted in the loss of 400 parking spaces for the city centre during the busy Christmas shopping period. “We are keen to know what is going to happen to the car park. If it is structurally unsafe is it going to be demolished,” he asked.

It has been earmarked for eventual demolition as part of the stalled Friarsgate development scheme.

“In the short term the council has been able to find other car parking spaces, but we would like to know what is going to happen in the long term and when re-development is likely to take place,” he added.

Society members are concerned that the closure has led to more on street and verge parking around the city centre.

They are calling for early action to replace the lost spaces.

Lichfield District Council is still looking into options for the car park and no decision has yet been made on whether repairs will be carried out.

It had originally been planned to demolish the car park last year until Friarsgate was put on hold.

A structural survey revealed a worrying degree of deterioration on the car park.

The shopmobility service next to the car park has also been temporarily moved.

The society is also urging Staffordshire County Council to make an early decision on whether to carry out repairs of more than £1 million on the Friary buildings.

It is also asking for public consultation to be carried out if any part of the buildings are to be sold off.

The society would prefer it to be retained for community use.