DEMOLISHING seven granite ‘follies’ at North Beach to make way for parking spaces was ruled out on cost grounds, it emerged yesterday.

A Public Services Department spokesman said the idea had been included in early informal discussions with the Environment Department.

‘It was rejected when it became clear that the cost of demolishing them and, in all likelihood reinstating them after the berths project was completed, would be prohibitive because it added a significant amount of money to the total cost of the project,’ he said.

Public Services owned the land at North Beach but it was not mandated to manage public parking. The creation of any additional parking spaces would need to be recommended by the Environment Department.