A closure-hit car park is to shut AGAIN as repairs to remove stalactites from the ceiling “have not worked as anticipated”.

Park Mall car park in Ashford was closed for months earlier this year so the icicle-shaped formations could be removed.

But they have quickly returned less than two months after the site reopened, leaving slippery patches on the floor and damaging cars.

In a statement sent out to Park Mall traders today, Ashford Borough Council’s property building services writes: “It is with regret that we will be closing Park Mall car park from this evening.

“The repairs carried out previously have not worked as we had anticipated so we now need to look at alternative solutions.

“We will of course provide an update on the car park once we have fully explored these options.”

The water on the ground has fallen from the stalactites which are mineral formations that hang from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges.

KentOnline reported today how fears were raised over the safety of the car park – just months after repairs were carried out to fix the issue.

The site has had a troubled history since former operator NCP pulled out from running the facility in September 2021 with just 32 hours notice.

ABC then took over the running of it, and after 10 months shut, it reopened in July last year.

During the closure, traders in Park Mall said the vacant site had been a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

It then closed again in April this year for maintenance after reports of stalactites dripping from the ceiling.

After two months, the bottom floor of the facility reopened in June.

The top floor, which was cordoned off earlier this year in a bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour, remains closed with no clear plan for what might happen in the future.

The next closest council-run car park is the Edinburgh Road multi-storey, where its lifts are notoriously unreliable.