Knaresborough businesses have said they would strongly oppose any moves to pedestrianise the town’s Market Place.
Knaresborough Town Council put forward an idea to pedestrianise a section of Market Place in a recent survey on the future of the town.
But businesses spoke out overwhelmingly against the proposal in a heated debate at a Knaresborough Chamber of Trade meeting last night.
They said the plans, which could see the area from the phone boxes to the market cross pedestrianised with the loss of 14 parking spaces, would damage trade.
Many said the loss of parking would encourage shoppers to go elsewhere and make deliveries more difficult.
Concerns have also been raised about how the area would look and who would manage the upkeep.
‘Massive impact on sales’
After the meeting, Stuart Pieri, who owns of The Wine Shop which looks out onto the car park, told the Stray Ferret:
“I already have people leaving boxes of wine at the door whilst they go and get their cars and park up outside on the double yellows so without those parking spaces in front it’ll be even worse. It’ll have a massive impact on sales for me. It would be the difference from people buying a box and a bottle.
“As a resident, it would be lovely to see it pedestrianised and done properly but from a business point of view it’s not as practical. Either way, of course I will adapt, but I’d rather not have to.”
Carole Bardon, owner of the Lavender Rooms, had similar opinions:
“It would make life really difficult, especially for deliveries. The idea of it is nice, more space for chairs outdoors, but it just hampers everything else. People wouldn’t be able to park out here, especially disabled people wouldn’t be able to get to us.”
Read more:
- Ripon car park could be resurfaced by Friday — and has bigger bays
- Booming Boroughbridge trade inspires clothes shop relocation
Kelly Teggin
‘Don’t fix what isn’t broken’
Kelly Teggin, owner of a hair salon on Castlegate said:
“I don’t think Knaresborough needs pedestrianising, we struggle for parking as it is. Those parking spaces are always being used so to lose them would have a huge impact, we’ll all lose customers if they don’t think they can get parking. Why fix something that isn’t broken?
“Also, it would need proper management and with the castle only a minute’s walk away pedestrians are already spoilt for choice. I think the idea is nice but the ripple effect on businesses and cost doesn’t add up.”
