There's a feeling of deja vu for some Brigg shoppers at the moment.
We have to admit we were among the Doubting Thomases in the early 1990s when it was decided that Brigg town centre would be pedestrianised.
Now Ashby - one of our neighbouring towns - is going through a similar process, though we stress that in this case pedestrianisation will only apply on market days.
North Lincolnshire Council leader Coun Rob Waltham is from Brigg and is encouraging people to continue shopping in Ashby
He paid a visit on Thursday to speak to businesses and traders.
The council is investing around £800,000 in relocating Ashby Market to Broadway.
The new street-style market will be in a busier area of Ashby High Street.
The market will continue to take place on Thursday. On this day, Broadway will be pedestrianised, with no access to vehicles. Car parking will be available in this area every other day.
The council says...
The current car parking provision will be levelled off so it is a flexible, multi-use area to accommodate the new market and events.
Free car parking is available in all car parks in Ashby for two hours on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Works on relocating Ashby Market started at the beginning of July and is expected to be finished in autumn.
Coun Rob - pictured below, second right during a visit to Ashby Broadway - said: “A number of businesses in Ashby have been in touch about the work taking place in Ashby to relocate the market. They had some concerns about this and I wanted to address these individually.
“I would encourage people to continue to shop local in Ashby and support businesses and traders. There are some fantastic places to shop, eat and relax in Ashby.
“We have made sure there is pedestrian access throughout Ashby while work is carried out and disruption is being kept to a minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“Once work has finished, Ashby will be given a new look and feel that visitors and residents can enjoy.
“We are committed to improving and supporting our markets in North Lincolnshire, which is why we are investing around £800,000 to develop Ashby Market. The street-style market will open up more opportunities for the hard working traders.
“Markets should be in the heart of our communities and with the new-look market we hope it will encourage more people to buy local and support their local market."
N.F. adds. ..
Brigg's pedestrianisation was not an overnight success. Some shops in the town centre that relied heavily on passing trade did suffer. Car drivers could no longer draw up outside the door and nip in for a quick purchase.
However, things eventually settled down and the majority of Brigg folk and visitors today would not favour turning back the clock to the days before pedestrianisation.
Along with other regular users of the No 4 bus service between Brigg and Scunthorpe, we are currently getting a good look at the current project in Ashby, as Broadway is on the route.
Only time will tell whether the changes in Ashby find favour with the majority of local residents and visiting shoppers.
But Brigg's has proved successful.
Remember shopping on our market when trucks were trundling by just a few feet away on the A18?
I'm sure that under the present North Lincs' administration that proposed future pedestrianisation of Ashby will be undertaken with precision.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with the implementation of the pedestrianisation of Brigg under the old Humberside Council, personally, I'm not convinced that legislation was properly implemented.
For example, no-one can show me the byelaws and/or the local Traffic Restriction Orders that are supposedly to exist to me what exactly what vehicular restrictions apply in the town centre.
Even the so-called, not cycling signs are confusing; the one near Cross Street (near the Red X shop, indicate, 'Dismount in the Market Place' -no mention of Wrawby St.
And pedantically, if a now cycling order exists, could this be quoted on the sign.....and does the alleged 'no-cycling' sign include those cyclists under 15 years of age as there has to be an additional clause added to the general No Cycling' order.
Consequently, if there's confusion in the simple issue of cycling, it tolls potential chaos about vehicles using the pedestrian zone.
The lack of proper legislation could explain that restriction traffic about the town centre is really only a wish-like...with no legal backing to back it up.
I would be very grateful if anyone, particularly from the powers that be, could direct me to the relevant legislation that was supposedly implemented when the pedestrian zone was created.
If one wants to prosecute a miscreant driver using Wrawby St...they have to prosecuted with reference to the specific byelaw/Traffic Order, which applies to the situation.
I'm sure that under the present North Lincs' administration that proposed future pedestrianisation of Ashby will be undertaken with precision.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with the implementation of the pedestrianisation of Brigg under the old Humberside Council, personally, I'm not convinced that legislation was properly implemented.
For example, no-one can show me the byelaws and/or the local Traffic Restriction Orders that are supposedly to exist to me what exactly what vehicular restrictions apply in the town centre.
Even the so-called, not cycling signs are confusing; the one near Cross Street (near the Red X shop, indicate, 'Dismount in the Market Place' -no mention of Wrawby St.
And pedantically, if a now cycling order exists, could this be quoted on the sign.....and does the alleged 'no-cycling' sign include those cyclists under 15 years of age as there has to be an additional clause added to the general No Cycling' order.
Consequently, if there's confusion in the simple issue of cycling, it tolls potential chaos about vehicles using the pedestrian zone.
The lack of proper legislation could explain that restriction traffic about the town centre is really only a wish-like...with no legal backing to back it up.
I would be very grateful if anyone, particularly from the powers that be, could direct me to the relevant legislation that was supposedly implemented when the pedestrian zone was created.
If one wants to prosecute a miscreant driver using Wrawby St...they have to prosecuted with reference to the specific byelaw/Traffic Order, which applies to the situation.