DEMOLITION work has begun on a derelict bingo club in Clifton.
The Sun Valley club in Green Lane closed in the summer of 2009 and has stood empty ever since.
But in the last few days contractors have moved in to start pulling the building down to make way for extra car parking for the nearby Morrison's store.
It is the first phase of the store's plans – with the second phase being the expansion of the store itself, from 3,124m² to 4,763m².
The new store will have its own cafe and the car park will be increased from 154 spaces to 244.
Councillor Ian Malcolm, who represents Clifton South, says the work is very exciting for the area.
"We are looking forward to it," said Mr Malcolm.
"It will attract more footfall to the main shops in Clifton.
"With a 50 per cent expansion, there is sure to be more jobs, although we are not sure how many yet.
"That then benefits all the other shops in the area."
He added that some local shoppers feel the need to travel to the larger Morrisons store in Gamston because of the wider range of products available, but hopes that will change once the expansion goes ahead.
"It's great news all round, he added. "We get regular complaints about the lack of car-parking in Clifton and this will improve that and make more parking spaces now and at the end of the work."
A Morrisons spokesman said work on laying the new car park will start on Monday but that a date for the store expansion had yet to be fixed.
She said: "We feel it will be a great asset for Clifton and are confident that an improved store will increase footfall to the local area as well as providing a number of new jobs.
"We're currently working on site to demolish the old bingo hall and merge this with our existing land to create a larger car park before works on the store extension begin."
She was unable to say how many new jobs will be created by the expansion, saying it was too early in the process.
