East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Galliford Try Ltd, the contractor appointed to the maintenance scheme for Saturday Market, are to begin consulting with market traders, local businesses and key stakeholders in Beverley’s historic Saturday Market about the phasing of works next year.
Work to improve the footpaths and carriageway, which have been high on the council’s maintenance schedule for some time, will start in January and be completed before Christmas 2013.
The scheme will see pavements widened, a pedestrian area created around the Market Cross and the cobbles and tarmac, which have been damaged by successive winters, replaced with different types of block paving. The market’s Yorkstone pavements will also be repaired.
After discussions with various stakeholders and local groups, including the town council and Beverley Civic Society, it has been agreed that some of the existing cobble setts will now feature at the end of the parking bays, in Old Waste and an area off Ladygate.
Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council is keen to ensure that the impacts of this important maintenance scheme are kept to a bare minimum. With this being the case, our engineers and staff from Galliford Try will soon be speaking to market traders, local businesses, the chamber of trade, town council and other local groups about how the scheme will be delivered and how the work will be phased in order to minimise disruption.
“The refurbishment of Saturday Market is an important scheme for many reasons, not only will it maintain Beverley’s reputation as one of the country’s most vibrant market towns but it will also safeguard local jobs in the construction industry at a time when it is being affected by the uncertain financial climate.”
Jenny Fern, community engagement manager for Galliford Try, said: “We’re very conscious of the inconvenience that will inevitably be caused from time to time by a project of this scale and complexity. We’re keen to liaise closely with local people to accommodate their individual needs as far as practical and keep everyone regularly updated of developments and forthcoming works. We firmly believe that the short-term pain will be well worth the long-term gain.”
Following this period of discussion, the work programme will be finalised and the date formally announced for the start of the scheme in January.
