Call for action to help town trade

Action needs to be taken now to secure the future prosperity of Newark, an independent retailer has claimed.

Holding out for an economic boost from the supermarket-led development at Potterdyke, which should be completed at Christmas, 2011, could be too little too late, he says.

Mr Andrew Hind, of Sibley’s Butchers on Kirkgate, says Sunday’s closure of the Potterdyke carpark, and the loss of 320 parking spaces, will have an impact.

Mr Hind fears congestion and lack of parking spaces until the Asda scheme is completed will drive market stallholders and shoppers away.

He called for free, short-stay parking in the town centre.

Mr Hind, who has 35 years’ retail experience in Newark, said: “People are being driven away. Without the market there is no Newark and we will not survive.

“Asda will come too late. Something needs to be done now. We are losing trade all the time.”

Mr Hind, with fellow butchers Mr Kevin Porter and Mr David Porter, and the owner of G. H. Porter Provisions, Mr David Moore, have offered to foot the bill for a Newark and Sherwood District Council delegation to visit Beverley to see how parking is managed there.

Mr Hind, who recently visited the Yorkshire market town, said there was plenty of on-street, short-term parking and maximum two-hour stay spaces, and medium and long-stay parking was five minutes walk from the town’s market.

“There are several streets in Newark town centre that could have 30 minutes of free parking,” he said.

“The loading bays could be free for short-stays on Saturdays and Sundays, the London Road carpark could be designated two-hour short-stay as could the Mount, even it were only Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays for the main markets.”

Mr Moore said: “The Market Place has been here for 1,000 years. Without the market none of us survive and something needs to be done now.

“The Market Place needs to be properly pedestrianised. Put up bollards between 10am and 4pm to stop traffic.”

The Asda store will bring 414 carpark spaces and is expected to create more than 300 full and part-time jobs. A promenade of new shops is part of the development.

The district council cabinet member for sustainable development and regeneration, Mr Roger Blaney, said: “The Asda development has been designed specifically to complement the existing town centre retail offer.

“In the meantime, I remain confident that the economy in the town centre will continue to thrive.

“Indeed, anecdotally it appears that the number of vacant premises in the town centre has been reduced by around a half since the beginning of this year.

“Major chain retailers have re-occupied large, previously vacant retail units and more are set to be filled. Middlegate is also now fully occupied.

“With any major development such as Potterdyke, disruption is inevitable and as the development is on a carpark, there will obviously be a temporary loss of some car parking spaces.

“In view of this and despite a lack of available space in the town centre for alternative carparking, we have made the Riverside Arena on Tolney Lane available as a temporary carpark and so far it has been well used.

“Along with a temporary carpark on Potterdyke itself which will be provided soon, the overall net loss of parking spaces will not be significant.

“We also have ample room to absorb this slight shortfall in our other car parks on Tolney Lane and the Livestock Market, for instance, although it involves a slightly longer walk into town.”