FUNDS to extend a Maidenhead car park will be used to refurbish Windsor coach park’s lift and footbridge after plans stall.

Councillor David Hilton (Con: Ascot & Sunninghill), lead member for finance, gave an update on the council’s finances and announced £164,000 will be invested into Alexander Coach park for much-needed repairs.

The cost of sprucing up the lift and the footbridge that leads from the coach park into the central station will be £150,000 but a “variation” of the covered bridge section and pending assessment from engineers may increase this cost.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, January 27, Cllr Samantha Rayner (Con: Eton & Castle), lead member for Windsor, said: “This is an incredibly important arrival into Windsor. It’s a key part for the Alexandra Gardens, Alma Road, and Barry Avenue car parks as well as coaches.

READ MORE: Windsor MP probed for not declaring job at medical cannabis firm

“In a typical month, we will have 20,000 cars parked in those three car parks. So, an awful lot of people are coming into Windsor.”

She added: “I have had lots of complaints from locals and visitors alike, so I am sure they will be very pleased.

“Especially as this is our Jubilee year when we are expecting more people to come to Windsor to enjoy the long Bank holiday.”

Cllr Hilton added the lift is a “safety issue” as it “very often doesn’t work”.

The funds to revamp the lift and the footbridge will come out of the Boulters Lock car park fund that sought to extend it due to an “abnormal” rise in demand during the summer months.

READ MORE: 'Platinum Jubbly' memorabilia misprint - Platinum Jubilee

But the project has stalled because of increasing contract costs and despite the council going back out to market, quotation cost far exceeds budget provision by up to 60 per cent.

Andrew Durrant, executive director of place, didn’t rule out that the plan is completely scrapped as it could be revisited but at a lower cost to create extended car parking bays.

He also said some of the space by the riverside car park could have community garden allotments, but a full range of options will return for consideration later in the year.