THE Gorleston harbour car park will reopen on Thursday, ending three years of doubts and negotiations about its future.

Ian Scott, managing director of the nearby Pier Hotel, said he was delighted to announce the end of the saga and the opening of the 131-space site.

The family business has signed a ten-year lease on the car park and invested �80,000 on levelling the site, making it safe, having it resurfaced, illuminated, white-lined and equipped with pay and display machines.

'I would like to thank everyone for their patience during the protracted talks about the car park and now hope visitors to the area and all the nearby businesses, including the Pier Hotel, will benefit from the work,' said Mr Scott. 'It will help ease much of the existing pressure on sea front parking spaces.

'Realistically, we must charge for parking in view of what we have invested and the need to continue to maintain the site. But we think �1 an hour or �6 all day is a fair price.'

Initially the park will be closed outside daylight hours but will become a 24-hour site next month once all the new the lighting is connected. Mr Scott said overnight parking would be experimental and carefully monitored to make sure it was not abused or misused.