Despite Cllr Tim Harrison voicing serious concerns over the 'development' of the market place and providing evidence from a survey he ran, against it, the decision has been taken to go ahead with the levelling of the Market Place surface as per the picture.
S.K.D.C. claim that it will improve infrastructure, but when Cllr Harrison asked exactly how lifting a road surface and making it level would improve infrastructure in a recent meeting with LCC and S.K.D.C. no one replied. Indeed ALL the people forcing this decision are not from Grantham. NO consultation was made with local businesses apart from Cllr Harrison's survey and personal interaction.
Those of you who were around in 2011, will doubtless remember how those 'improvements' (which ran into millions) achieved nothing apart from losing numerous businesses, a number of the market stalls and removed masses of parking spaces. At the time that was touted by S.K.D.C. as a wondrous investment, it removed what was a 'level' surface at an extortionate cost.
We contacted Cllr Harrison for comment but because of the pre-election period, he stated he is not allowed to comment. Cllr Cleaver had previously made the statement that the works would put the Market Place more at "the heart of Grantham"! Where was it before? The bizarre thing is they are not even levelling up all the area, apparently, there is a phase two according to Cllr Richard Davies, that will deliver the section in front of Prime Comfort. It was also stated by Cllr Cleaver that putting coloured surfaces down at Station Road will ease traffic! S.K.D.C. had 4 years to put this plan together but as per usual it was left until last minute. This is all being done at the same time as works on Barrowby Road, Gonerby Road, Alma Park Road and Dysart Road.
Welcome to a summer of chaos, let's pray that the A1 remains accident-free. Two new businesses to the Market Place are going to be starting off with horrendous access problems and for the best 4 months for all traders the Market Place will be in chaos.
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