THE demolition of the Capitol Car Park marks a new chapter in the city centre ahead of the building of Friars Walk, due to begin in March.

Built in the 1960s but closed in 2010, the car park was located near a number of major schemes that shape the city centre as we know it now.

But the car park has seen better days, and in July an area around it had to be fenced off after engineers said it needed urgent work.

The 1960s and1970s redevelopment of Newport city centre saw the building of the Kingsway Centre, Newport Museum and Library, the redevelopment of Old Green Roundabout and the construction of John Frost Square.

Bob Trett, former curator at Newport Museum, said the car park had been built at the site of the old medieval friary, only small parts of which had survived by the time of the 60s development.

By the 19th century the area had become part of Newport’s docklands.