Public parking will no longer will be available on the vacant block on the corner of Havelock Street and Baring Square East from Monday 6 July, as the Council begins further technical work for the new Ashburton Library & Civic Centre.​

The Council will be drilling test bore holes as part of further site investigations, which will be used to finalise the detailed designs for the new building.

Strategy & Compliance Group Manager Jane Donaldson says drivers have been able to use the site as an unofficial carpark after the site's buildings were demolished last year, but progress on the Library & Civic Centre project means they will need to revert back to other available parks.

"There are several parking options around the Ashburton CBD, including the West Street carpark, one hour free parking along East Street and metered parking down Havelock, Burnett, Tancred and Moore Streets.

"A number of construction projects around the CBD have limited some of these parks, so we'd encourage residents to plan ahead and look for the most suitable parking for their needs."

The Ashburton Library & Civic Centre project is expected to begin construction at the end of the year