HEALTH and safety inspectors have approved the reopening of 500 spaces in the troubled Castlepoint car park.

A third of the lower deck level opened to the public yesterday and the car park at the major out-of-town shopping centre is now operating at two-thirds capacity.

Further sections of the lower level are expected to reopen in the next few days.

The entire lower level - around 1,500 spaces - was cordoned off on Saturday after security guards discovered a chunk of concrete had broken away from the roof and fallen down.

It's the latest in a series of problems that have plagued the car park ever since Castlepoint opened 18 months ago.

The problems appear to stem from the fact that the concrete roof doesn't contract or expand in the way it should but Standard Life Investments, the operators of Castlepoint, have categorically denied that anything is wrong with the concrete.

Yesterday, a statement issued on behalf of Castlepoint said: "The well-being of our shoppers continues to be our highest priority.

"Whilst the installation of netting is seen as a temporary measure, the overall structural integrity of the car park has been confirmed by independent consultants and car park engineers.

"Further sections of the lower level will reopen pending approval."

David Paine, investment director at Standard Life Investments, apologised for the inconvenience caused by the sudden closure but insisted they had to put shoppers' safety first.

"The advice from those around us was that this was an isolated incident but Castlepoint took the view that there is nothing more important than public safety."

First published: May 12