Council dismisses Sleaford market place parking complaints

Complaints about a market place no longer being used as a car park have been dismissed by the council.

Planning approval was given for a £1m project to turn the square in Sleaford into a public space in January, with the market continuing three days a week.

However, the decision attracted a number of complaints from local residents and businesses who were upset by the changes.

North Kesteven District Council says it has considered the objections and plans to continue with the legal traffic order to prevent parking there, with certain exceptions.

It has clarified that businesses will be allowed to load for up to 30 minutes at a time, and maintenance access for the church and businesses will be maintained.

Sleaford Town Council, the operator of Sleaford Market, will manage the loading access for traders, according a report on the council website.

Disabled people with a blue badge will be able to continue parking in the market square from Tuesday to Thursday.

Any one-off requests for access will need to be submitted to the council.

Work to make the area more pedestrian-friendly is currently in its final stage, with the first event to be held this weekend (December 21 and 22).

The council-owned car parking spaces have been replaced with paving, seating and mood lighting with the aim of creating a communal area for the town centre.

Council leader Richard Wright (Con) recently said: “We believe that it is now a much more appealing events space at the heart of the town where a market can flourish free of the conflict that previously existed in its dual use as a car park.

“Within just a few weeks it will be available once more, after a closure of just five months, for Sleaford Town Council to resume and grow its three weekly markets.”