Unlocking the potential of the Market Square (Northampton Liberal Democrats)

Northampton Liberal Democrats <info@northamptonlibdems.org.uk>

Unlocking the potential of the Market Square

July 28, 2008 11:28 PM

New plans to rejuvenate the Market Square will be taken to Northampton Borough Council's Liberal Democrat Cabinet Committee next month.

A report proposing a new layout for the Market Square was commissioned by Northampton Borough Council following a successful bid for funding through Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited. To guide the project a steering group was created, made up of representatives of the borough council, market traders, town centre businesses and shoppers.

The new plans propose increasing the size of the events area and employing a dedicated events organiser who would be responsible for organising and developing a regular schedule of events and activities. There are also plans to improve the Abington Street entrance onto the market and give the market a new centrepiece with seating and food stalls.

Councillor Richard Church, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for regeneration said: "The Market Square has enormous potential and this report shows us a way to unlock it. The continental markets and farmers' market have proved very popular and shown us that we can attract more people into the town when we provide something interesting or different."

"This is a positive step forward. When we commissioned this report we wanted to tackle the tough questions of how we could reverse the decline of the market and find new ways to bring new life into the square. We have been listening to traders and shoppers and come up with a way to make the best use of a fantastic space."

"We already have exciting new plans for Gold Street and now the south of the town centre, so this is an opportunity to develop the Market Square in a way that would see it return to being the heart of the town."

The plans will go before Northampton Borough Council's cabinet on 4 August, where it is anticipated cabinet will support the report and an application for additional funding from Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited.