"These 3D scans are brilliant; I'm so glad my art can be seen for generations to come"

The panels, created by Grimsby born artist Harold Gosney in 1969, adorn the pillars of the car park and are inspired by drawings in the handbook of the car that he had at the time, which was an Austin Cambridge estate car, and included suspension, carburettor, etc.

Although there are 40 panels on the structure, these are a repeated series of 4 designs – some flipped 180 degrees.

Abbey Walk car park was closed in May 2024 following the discovery of structural defects. Water ingress into key structural supports, making the car park unsafe to use.

As a result, its demolition was approved in September last year to make way for a surface level car park, but with the capability in the foundations of being built on in future years if needed.

Whilst the final decision on Mr. Gosney’s artwork has yet to be made, work to preserve them is already underway.

Steps have been taken to use modern 3D scanning technology so the artwork can be viewed for generations to come. This will also allow for the panels to be reprinted in the future using a range of materials.

To do this, the University of Lincoln’s Conservation team utilised a number of methods. The team boasts an impressive amount of previous work including structures like Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, and paintings at the National Army Museum.

The scanners work by projecting light on to the object in question and measuring the time taken for it to be reflected back. This is then converted into co-ordinates which are used to reconstruct the structure into a digital 3D model.

The team used a handheld scanner that collects a series of images, known as frames, in a process called tracking. The software then collates where overlaps might occur from each frame to produce the final 3D image.

Now, with the scans complete, his artwork can be reproduced for years to come. The project team will also be exploring ways in which the reliefs can be removed as a whole. The 3D scanning is a safety measure to ensure the artworks can be preserved in some format regardless of how the structure is demolished.

Harold Gosney, the artist, is thrilled with the scans and is relieved to know his art will be preserved for generations to come.

He said: “These scans sound brilliant to me and I’m so pleased my work can be kept for future use. Those who were worried that my art may be lost need not worry anymore.

“This means they can last forever.”

He added: “The scans are so impressive as well, they even have the grains and textures from where I filed them originally before they were cast and put in place.”

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “These 3D scans are absolutely amazing. I’m thrilled to see Mr. Gosney’s artwork come to life.

“We are thrilled to be able to preserve it for years to come and are grateful for his cooperation in the project so far.”

He added: “The decision to demolish the car park was not one taken lightly, but the safety of the borough was and always is the number one priority.”

The planning application has been submitted for the demolition of the car park and is currently in the planning process. If you wish to view the application, go to www.nelincs.gov.uk- external site , search for Planning Portal, and then use reference DM/0018/25/FUL.