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Yes, the title says it all – Trinity Square car park in Gateshead, made famous by the movie Get Carter, will be demolished from this Monday, 26th July.
It's an icon of brutalist architecture, opened in 1969 and the work of Owen Luder. But like most designs in that style (and of that era), it's a building that divides opinion locally. The local council is obviously not keen and has decided to demolish it in favour of a new, large-scale development.
So we wave goodbye and remember the classic scene in the movie below. Oh yes, pictured above is Jonathan Wilkinson's art print of it – that sells for £20 from here.
I lived in Gateshead for many years and know the car park very well.
It is a great shame that such an iconic structure has to be demolished but I know that the car park has become a symbol of all that is bad about living in the urban jungle!
The car park has developed a reputation as a no go area and has all too often been the preffered destination for muggers,suicide victime and junkies.
The site has become the focal point for the proposed regeneration of gateshead town centre and it certainly needs regeneration!!
How times ave changed. After the success of Carter I can remember there were moves to turn the empty ‘penthouse’on the top into a lavish nightclub!
Oh well, c’est la vie – the film will serve as a testament,I suppose.
John Waters