THE Royal Borough Council has refused to release a structure report on a decrepit town multi-storey car park despite looking to demolish it.

A resident requested a copy of the council-commissioned engineer’s report on the Broadway car park, also known as the Nicholson’s, under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, in the local authority’s reply, which was over the statutory 20 working days, it denied his request as it may ‘prejudice’ the research and releasing ‘incomplete’ information may ‘mislead’ or give an ‘inaccurate impression’ of future strategies before it is finalised.

The council acknowledged that there is a public interest in this issue, but it does not outweigh its Freedom of Information refusal.

READ MORE: Maidenhead's Broadway car park repair work a "waste of money"

On New Year’s Eve, the council suddenly closed the popular car park in Maidenhead due to ‘health and safety reasons’ after bits of concrete fell off the building’s ceiling. It will remain closed ‘for the foreseeable future’.

Fast forward a few months later, the then council leader Andrew Johnson said it would be a “colossal waste of money” to repair the car park when it’s going to be demolished anyway as part of the redevelopment of the Nicholsons shopping centre.

Instead, the Broadway multi-storey car park will be demolished “at the earliest opportunity” and could be replaced by a temporary surface car park or a steel frame car park.

READ MORE: Maidenhead car park will remain closed for "foreseeable future"

But the resident said the council’s desire to demolish the Nicholsons car park is “premature” as it “does not understand the full, wider implications” this decision could have on local businesses and residents.

The council did not wish to comment further on the matter.