Concern from former March mayor that regeneration of town centre is impacting businesses
The multi-million pound work has been ongoing since January last year
Last updated 9th Apr 2024
A former mayor of March has said he's uncertain how business will be able to continue in the town once a redevelopment project in the town has finished.
Work on redeveloping March town centre, undertaken by Octavius who have been contracted for the works, includes a new road layout and public seating with a temporary roundabout recently being erected between Station Road and Dartford Road.
It's part of an £8.4 million programme to regenerate the area and is due to finish this autumn.
"It's going to be hard for the shops"
But the project has received some critics, including Rob Skoulding:
"I think it's not just March, with the car parking gone from the centre of town, I think it's going to be hard for the shops," he said.
"Shopkeepers were on their knees trying to survive during Covid and I think it (the project) would be a final straw for a lot of shops.
"The summer period is where they make the money and hopefully they will survive because we need independent shops, not just the big chains."
What is currently being done?
Octavius is switching the works area from the northern and eastern parts of Broad Street to the southern and western areas to help progress with the remaining phases of work throughout the spring and summer.
A 2-way traffic light system will be in operation on Broad Street only, and will impose a full road closure of Grays Lane from Broad Street for four months, with access to Grays Lane from Dartford Road only.
The permanent roundabout and road surface are due to be installed towards the end of the project.
Previously, district councillors have shared their excitement for the plans.
Cllr Steve Count, district and county ward member for March, said: "We want to assure people that these plans have been very carefully thought through, with input from experts on town centre development and traffic management.
"The combination of schemes, once complete, is going to bring incredibly positive improvements."
Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council's portfolio holder for transport, added: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for March to reverse the decade of decline that has affected high streets up and down the country."