Beverley businesses see pros and cons to Saturday Market revamp

A business fears five months of roadworks in a popular marketplace could affect trade – but hopes it will be worth it in the long run.

Work is due to start later on improvements to parking areas and pedestrian access in Saturday Market, Beverley.

Lucy Thompson owns pet shop Oh My Dog, which is just off the square. She said: “I am slightly concerned about it because I feel like people won’t pass us. We need as much footfall as possible, but I do get it needs doing.”

Councillor Paul West, of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said it was “a positive scheme to improve Beverley for residents, businesses and visitors”.

The changes to the marketplace are part of a £530,000 project funded by the Department for Transport.

Parts of the square will be closed at times for safety reasons, but access to businesses and properties will be maintained, the council said.

Thompson, whose shop is in Dyer Lane, said people had been confused by the current layout of Saturday Market and she hoped the changes would put that right.

“A refurbishment is obviously needed, but the disruption for 20 weeks will be a nail in the coffin, especially to independents like my own,” she added.

Alice Stark, who works at the De Lacy At Home gift shop in the square, said the current parking system needed looking at.

“We watch people outside the window and because we know what the parking system is, you can see people constantly getting it wrong.”

She said she hoped new signage would be “large enough and clear enough” for people to understand.

Amber Dickinson, from travel agency One World Travel, said customers had complained about receiving parking tickets in the square.

She was hopeful that the disruption would not affect trade.

“We haven’t been told that we need to close or anything, so hopefully it shouldn’t.

“But obviously we’ll notice an impact on our business if it if it does,” she added.

West, the cabinet member for environment and transport at the council, said: “We thank residents and businesses for their patience during this time and look forward to seeing the project completed in time for the summer.”