Renewed call to save Grimsby car park art as demolition begins

As demolition work begins on a 1960s car park in Grimsby, renewed calls have been made for artwork on the building to be saved.

The Abbey Walk car park is being knocked down after North East Lincolnshire Council said it found structural damage making it unsafe to use.

On one side of the building are sculptures created by artist Harold Gosney which the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society wants to be saved.

The council has had 3D scans of the artwork made ahead of demolition, but a spokesperson for the society said they “don’t cut it”.

The car park was closed in May 2024 after the council said it discovered structural defects with water getting into the supports.

It decided to demolish it and replace it with a surface level car park.

Since then, the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society has been campaigning to save the Harold Gosney concrete reliefs.

In March last year, a conservation team used 3D technology to scan the artworks and create a digital model so they can be reprinted in the future.

However, Angela Greenfield from the civic society said: “We’re hoping some of the sculptures will be saved. 3D scans don’t cut it. They’re a scan, not the piece of art.”

She said: “We’re not optimistic any real effort is going to be made and that is completely wrong.

“They’re important and Harold Gosney is a renowned sculptor. He’s celebrated in every other part of the country and yet in Grimsby that he’s connected to we just dispose of his artwork.”

A council spokesperson said: “At a meeting with Harold Gosney last year, the artist confirmed the panels were cast in situ with metal bars running through them which were integral to the car park structure, which is likely to make removal of the artwork incredibly difficult.

“Since last year, we have digitally preserved the artworks, 3D scanning and taking high quality pictures of the artwork on the ground floor too.

“Once work has started, the contractors will be able to investigate whether or not some of the original artwork can be saved.”

The council said demolition work was expected to take 12 weeks to complete.