Newark residents share views on investment of more than £3 million into Market Place
The people of Newark have given their verdict on plans to invest more than £3 million into the town’s Market Place — as a debate rages on how to revitalise the town’s fortunes.
The Advertiser revealed that the town’s ‘crown’ would be receiving the funds reallocated from the multi-million Newark Gateway project, which is now on ice.
The news has triggered a big debate — with people suggesting ideas for how best to spend the cash to breathe new life into the town centre and others reflecting on how the market was thriving years ago.
Posting on our social media pages, Samantha Louise John said: “It doesn't need to look attractive, no one goes to a town to look at pretty plants and new paths.
“It needs shops, all units occupied with a variety of goods.
“A full market and someone mentioned car boot which is a fab idea.”
Jackie Sutton said: “This town used to have coaches full of visitors pulling up daily, but then the coach parking spaces went then the toilets at the castle went and so on.”
Tina Anderson said: “Repair all the historic buildings that have been left to ruin which make this town look awful open them up for tourists to look round, have more tours round the castle and church etc.”
Newark was allocated a £25 million grant from the Government in 2021 to deliver ten priority project.
The Newark Cultural Heart project was originally set to receive a £1.5 million capital Towns Fund grant towards the transformation of Newark Market Place — but last week’s decision adds an extra £2.1 million to the scheme.
The project aimed to revamp the space with associated infrastructure including power, seating, and lighting — and create an area that could accommodate a range of experiences including markets, events, al-fresco dining, and areas to relax and play.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (September 24), it was recommended that £2,110,000 capital from the Gateway project was relocated to the Newark Heart project, as the budget showed to be insufficient over the last year.
Reflecting on the decline that led to this investment being needed, Andrew Calladine said: “First job after leaving school 1979/80 £5 a day 3am till 5pm selling fruit and veg market always rammed from 6ish so busy the good old days of amount of pubs gone since then is unreal.”
Mark Minns added: “Sadly it’s a little late to undo the catastrophic damage inflicted by appalling town planning and milking of the market stall traders for everything they had.
“There were some fantastic traders on that market, to a man complaining every year about the sky high stall rents.
“Destroy the market, make parking a nightmare and allow and continue to allow retail developments out of the centre. Hey presto, it’s all gone!”
Rachel Chappell suggested adding a nice water feature claiming that most towns and cities have them.
She added: “Log cabins in winter keep our stall holders warm and cosy. There's so many ideas just bring our town back.”
Margaret Bentley said: “How much more are you going to waste before you wake up and solve the issue with the shops and market trade?
“That’s what brings the footfall into Newark.
“Instead we have to travel out of town for the decent shops.”
Bonnie St John said: “Inject money into small independent businesses around the square not bric n brac stalls pound shops and charity shops the bread cheese and veg stalls are always busy people love to buy local fresh produce and support new young business.
“Lower rents and give grants.”
Stewart Codd added: “The demise of the market started when the indoor market was closed and not reopened as it was,
“It’s been let to run down over the years to what we have now.
“When the Bean and Vine first opened the ladies there wanted to open into the Market in a similar fashion as their do in any town and city abroad.
“Shorted minded as they were, they said no.
“When I visit French and other other UK markets I am impressed with the quality and variety of product. Yet, overall, Newark seems to be slipping back on both.
“Firstly those running it need to acknowledge its shortcomings before being able to have an open-minded rethink to develop it be the ‘crown’ jewel in the county.
“I have held up Shrewsbury’s market as an example before and it should be a case study for those in the planning.”
What do you think? Let us know your views in the comments below…
