THERE is no doubt Newcastle will benefit from having a larger art gallery for the city's valuable collection ('Council wins funding for gallery expansion', Newcastle Herald, 28/1). However, the planned expansion of the building's footprint will see the loss of around 40 public car parking spaces along the Darby Street side of the current gallery and behind, in the Queen Street car park.
These short and long term car parks currently provide off-street parking for visitors to the gallery, Darby Street and the nearby Civic area as well as all day parking for commuting workers.
