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Mablethorpe business owner speaks out against council’s market move
Karen Brant, owner of Mablethorpe Carpet Warehouse in Waterloo Road, is not convinced by the trial move of the weekly market to the High Street.
ONE local business owner is yet to be convinced by Mablethorpe market’s High Street move, despite it being hailed in some quarters.
Karen Brant, owner of a number of shops in the town, believes her Mablethorpe Carpet Warehouse in Waterloo Road has been ‘shut off’ by badly planned road diversions on market days since the April 5 move.
East Lindsey District Council opted to move the Thursday market from the Station Road car park to the High Street for a trial period, with it also moving to a Tuesday from June.
“Drivers are being diverted up Seacroft Road so we are losing lots of passing trade which we’re very reliant on,” she said.
“We’re not allowed to put A-boards further up the road so people don’t know we’re here.
“We pay business rates and don’t feel the council gave us any say in the relocation, just a leaflet telling us it would happen.”
James Gilbert, spokesman for the district council, said: “The main aim is by ensuring the market is in the heart of the town it provides a regular boost to local businesses as well as there being more trade for the stallholders.”
“We’d welcome feedback from any parties during the trial period,” he added.
Karen said the Christmas market had a similar effect on trade, with diversions taking people ‘away from the town centre’.
“We also have problems with deliveries on market days, as Waterloo Road just becomes a bottleneck,” she added.
Karen Cheevers, from Butterflies women’s clothing store in the High Street, said she thought the new location was a good move and hadn’t noticed any big effect on trade so far.
Meanwhile, Damian Wilkinson, owner of Belas Toy and Sports Shop in the High Street, said: “It seems a good decision, the more people we can get into the town centre the better.
“That said, I think the signage for the diversions could be better, and I think the move to a Tuesday could be problematic for some market traders.”
What do you think of the market’s new location? Text the Leader on 61500. Start with LOP LLNEWS then a space and your message. Include your name and address. Texts cost 25p plus your standard network rate.
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Weather for Louth
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
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