River Park Project: Salisbury coach park works 'virtually complete'

KIER, the construction company contracted by the Environment Agency, said it was "very pleased with the progress" it has made on the small park area opposite the central car park on Friday, July 5.

This area should be open to the public in July now that all the hard surfacing has been placed.

Benches and information boards are still to be added and wildflowers and trees will be planted in the dirt mounds later this year.

KIER is yet to install signs and benches. (Image: KIER)

The coach park has been closed since January for remodelling work which should have taken four months.

However, the work was delayed by two months due to flooding which brought the new finish date target to the beginning of July.

Read more: ​River Park Project update: Coach park delayed due to flooding

Delays have spelled devastating consequences for south Indian restaurant Elai which opened last August and was met with disruption almost right away.

In May, co-owner Unni Bala told the Journal he has had to lay off four staff members in a desperate bid to cut costs and keep the restaurant afloat long enough for the construction work to finish.

The purpose of the Government-funded £27m River Park Project is to reduce flooding and it began on August 12, 2022.

Phase one of the project is set to be completed this summer, according to the Environment Agency.