Plans recently unveiled by Northampton's council to reshape our Market Square are a waste of time and cash...
Because these measures will not pull in shoppers and increase footfall to the Town Centre.
New initiatives which intend to compete with Milton Keynes are a leaning towards boasting an 'Oasis of cafes' and a giant TV screen with a dining area which I believe to be a first for any British market.
I'm not optimistic that the HUGE television screen will attract thousands of shoppers every day.
I must say the upheaval of market traders from prime locations will not go down well; these traders will not be welcoming the council investment, because not everybody does their shopping in the greedy supermarkets, and a movement of stalls to a different location always means a loss of trade for some months.
The council seem to forget that a thriving market is good for Northampton town centre.
Like the previous Conservative council, this Liberal Democrat administration ought to listen to market traders more and consultants less, because the expertise required is already there within the market traders themselves, and is free for the asking.
What this council is very good at is wasting money.
For more about markets see:
www.villagemarkets.co.uk
www.cottingham.tv
See my videos on www.blip.tv at:
http://blip.tv/file/1249267?filename=KevinStoney-FITZY466.m4v
and: http://blip.tv/file/1246779?filename=KevinStoney-FITZYRETURNS555.m4v
