The Newark Advertiser found out what people think that could improve the town in 2025

With the beginning of a new year come wishes and resolutions, so we asked the people of Newark how they thought our market town could be improved in 2025.

Town centres across the country are facing a variety of challenges, from economic performance and government support to a low volume of people shopping locally.

In its weekly voxpop, the Advertiser heard people’s opinions on what could be done to improve Newark, and everyone had something to say.

“We need to revitalise the shops,” said Rob Hives, “There are so many empty shops, they are converting the old Marks and Spencer into apartments and some more shops but why?

“There are enough empty shops here already and I know we have got Northgate and the new retail park but that is inviting people out of the town rather than into the town.”

Mark Spruce said: “I just think we need to have better promotion of the stations, especially Newark Northgate.

“It is very bare in there, we need something to encourage the people to come into town rather than just wait for a train and catch the next train.”

Virginia Curry’s idea was to stop building houses: “We don’t need any more houses — there is nothing here.

“We don’t need any more people in this town, we need things for the people.

“It is nothing like when we grow up.”

Mark Bentley said: “Parking here is too expensive, there is nowhere to park, it is not an attractive town anymore.
“The parking is poor, the market is poor, it is not what it used to be.”

Dave Curry said that there needs to be more investment in the town centre:

“We used to go to Marks and Spencer and now also Wilko’s is gone — it is depression when you come into town now,” he said.

“Everywhere we go out of town, on Sundays and Bank Holidays is free parking, in here you have to pay for everything.

“We have been in the middle of Durham and it was free parking.”

Judith Ring also agreed that more improved parking was needed so that “more people would come shopping.”

Mr Smith said that the shops closing down was the biggest problem:

“Wilkos, Wetherspoons is the biggest one, with the pub closing down I personally think it killed Newark.

“They should absolutely bring Wetherspoons back.”