Newark Advertiser reader letters: Investment in market should be welcomed
The news that Newark Market Place is set for an increase in its development allocation is one that should be welcomed and the optimism that goes with the decision.
The devil is always in the detail, but the town has a great foundation and its Market Place is the centre of that.
There are other towns in the county that have a right to be envious of our town, its history, its architecture and what benefits it can bring if it's showcased correctly.
I would hope that bringing it 'up to date' can be done in a way that remains sensitive to the architecture that surrounds it and across most of the town. Towns essentially have two sources of income — that provided by the people and business that live within it and that from people who come to visit.
For the latter, we have to give people a compelling reason to come and each different aspect of the town has to work in conjunction with the others to create an experience that will create that attraction .
It will be important not to over-develop to the point that it is at odds with the rest of the Newark experience.
We see in the footfall of places like York and across popular European destinations, that people love to visit towns that showcase their tradition as opposed to replacing it.
This is especially true of those towns with market squares.
We are in a prime place to capitalise on people seeking out what they enjoy. Well done to everyone who has been involved in getting this town back on the road to fulfilling its potential and directing investment towards the Market Place. — Andrew Leatherland, Newark.