Business owners in Sleaford fear they'll have to close if a revamp of the Market Place goes ahead

Businesses across Sleaford have expressed concerns over proposals to pedestrianize the town's Market Place.

It comes after North Kesteven District Council, set out a new vision for the area.

Currently, it's primary function is as a car park and a market which is run by Sleaford Town Council three times a week.

Under the plans – which have just been submitted for formal consideration – parking would stop in the square, the market would remain but the entire area be upgraded into an improved public space for residents and visitors, which is hoped would improved customer footfall and better support public events.

North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright said:

“As the main town square for Sleaford, the Market Place cannot currently fulfil its potential due to its daily use as a car park and the limitations that places on it.

“The vision to refresh and repurpose it into a predominantly pedestrian-space would provide a comfortable, car-free area in the town centre for people to linger and spend longer whilst going about their business in Sleaford.

Such a welcoming central space to relax in and enjoy will be of great benefit to the town, socially, culturally and economically.

As a new facility for residents and visitors, our hope is that it will also help increase overall footfall, dwell-time and trade in the town centre, for the benefit of all.”

The scheme would be funded by more than £1m of a government grant for economic renewal, and has been worked up as a priority action in response to a long-held aspiration for improved public space in the town.

Under the proposal, the area and surrounding footpaths would have new paving, highlighting the key features of St Denys’ Church and the war memorial, which would be lit to showcase its importance.

It will also have two raised planting beds and seating.

It's also hoped it would accommodate the potential for additional café seating, with additional bench seating and planters.

There's also up-lighting of the feature trees and new lighting proposed, which is to create ambience in the evenings.

But Ken and Wendy Hanslip, who run Bellissimo Boutique Clothing Store say it will make things worse:

"We're based in the marketplace in Sleaford, which is one of the central areas just off the main South Gate shopping centre and it's a multi use site.

So, it's used for car parking, it's used for events, be it the Christmas market or for Armistice Day events and so it's a very diverse area, and of course, there's car parking and a lot of the car parkers here are disabled motorists, because they can get easy access into the town." Ken said.

Wendy added that: "This will make things worse because during the pandemic we were all really fortunate enough that government supported us.

They paid our rent for a year, and without that I would say 99% of the businesses in Sleaford would have folded.

"There's no way we could have sustained paying rent, paying all our other bills - because they still had to be paid.

But of course, we come out of that and we were just starting to come through nicely, and then we get hit by all the energy rises and our bills have tripled, three times."

She went on to say that this could cause them to go under, with the amount of time it will take for the new proposals to be build, and therefore, the amount of time they will have to be closed.

It has been said that limited vehicle access will remain in place for weddings and funerals, at the discretion of the church.

Also, nearby parking options such as Church Lane and Eastgate will remain.

Service delivery vehicles are expected to use the loading bays adjacent to Market Place or Market Street when visiting businesses, with market traders able to unload before moving their vehicles to a nearby car park.

If granted planning permission, the project would receive in excess of £1million from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Market Place would close to vehicles in late spring 2024 as contractors arrive onsite and it would potentially be ready to reopen as a refreshed space in early 2025.

North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright added:

“Knowing what a major change this represents, we have given deep consideration to the likely impacts of the work as well as the benefits the finished space would bring to Sleaford,

“We have been gifted this UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation and It is important that we don’t miss the opportunity to make use of it to reinvigorate a key location at the heart of Sleaford, to bring about lasting and positive change for Sleaford town centre and our wider local economy in North Kesteven.

“In seeking to fulfil a long-held aspiration expressed for the town, we have brought forward a proposal which we feel will give renewed purpose to this historic space, restore it as a significant asset and reimagine it with fresh potential for community use in such a beautiful setting.”

Talks are said to be ongoing with stakeholders, to assess the implications of the intended works on the regular market, businesses and other activities; and similarly, the Council is liaising with events that are due to take place during the proposed construction period.

They are looking at solutions such as a plan to provide market traders with a temporary new location in the town centre to operate from while the works take place.

Also the need for schools to make alternative pick-up locations for buses.

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