Redevelopment of Great Yarmouth market area splits opinions

The construction work is part of a project to modernise Great Yarmouth's town centre.

It is part of a £5.8m public realm improvement project - part of a wider revamp - and is expected to take 44 weeks to complete.

The borough council says the good weather has meant its contractors could get off to a great start on the work and the timing of the works was carefully planned to make sure the risk of any delays and cost increases caused by poor weather were minimised.

The aim is to improve pedestrian walkways and create new seating areas and planters and follows the building of a £4.7m new covered market area.

Construction work is underway at the Market Place in Great Yarmouth as part of the town centre revamp (Image: Bruno Brown)

On a bustling Wednesday afternoon on market day, traders on the market had mixed opinions on the project.

Some traders complained about the timing of the work, which began as the summer holiday period commenced, while others felt that it simply needed doing and would bring in more benefits to the town's economy.

Sophie Howlett, co-owner of Jack's Flower Stall (Image: Bruno Brown)

'RUBBING OUR NOSES IN IT'

Sophie Howlett, who is the fourth generation to run Jack's Flower Stall, says she cannot even collect her deliveries at her stall as bollards and construction work is in the way.

"The timing seems illogical because it is right in the heart of the summer holidays, our busy season, and I feel it is putting people off coming into town, nobody is going to want to sit here with that racket going on," she said.

“The timing is horrific and they are rubbing our noses in it,  the noise is ridiculous, and I feel it should have started when the kids go back to school."

Donna Waters has worked for Copland Family Bakers for more than a decade (Image: Bruno Brown)

The boarded-up entrance beside the Copland Family Butcher (Image: Bruno Brown)

'IT IS MUCH MORE QUIETER'

Donna Waters, who works for Copland Family Bakers in the market, says her end of the market is suffering as the nearest entrance to the stall is boarded up while work is ongoing.

"Our nearest access point into the market, which would usually bring people out right by my stall, has been closed for a while now so it is much quieter down my end and the work has affected footfall," she said.

“I think it is ridiculous the work is going on in the summer and it is hurting business, but what can you do?

“It even seems to have affected my internet as my card reader hasn’t been working since this has been ongoing, it’s a nightmare and I can't wait for it to be completed."

Christine Nichols, owner of Nichols Seafood (Image: Bruno Brown)

'PEOPLE COMPLAIN FOR THE SAKE OF IT'

Christine Nichols, owner of Nichols Seafood, which was started by her grandad in 1946 believes that trade is good, and the work is positive for the town.

"We have been on a building site for the past three years here at least, we just get on with it and keep going," she said.

"They could have waited until the end of the summer season, it’s not the best timing, but it needs doing and will bring long-term success.

“We haven’t got anything to complain about really, it had to be done and that is the bottom line. It is busy and I think footfall is good."

 Chris Thomas, owner of Soaps and Scents 4 All, moved to the town 23 years ago (Image: Bruno Brown)

'WORK NEEDED DOING'

Chris Thomas, owner of Soaps and Scents 4 All, sees the project as essential for modernising the town and making it a more attractive place to visit.

"The work is an undeniable inconvenience, but it needed doing and long term I think it will be a positive thing for the town.

“Once it is done it will look much better. I love the new market it’s definitely an improvement, the old one was rotting."

Ivan Ammon, owner of the footstall, KI-KI-RI-KI (Image: Bruno Brown)

'I HOPE THE COUNCIL CAN HELP US TRADERS'

Ivan Ammon, owner of the footstall KI-KI-RI-KI which he opened last year, hopes that the council will help traders in the winter months.

"You can’t expect people to want to sit and eat and also want to spend time here with the noise, the noise is decimating things short term.

"I hope the council can help us at some point because having our summer trade affected means we are going to have a rough winter, we are all scared about how we are going to cope," he said.

"But it’s not just the market holders suffering, it’s the catering industry in general."

Construction work is underway at the Market Place in Great Yarmouth as part of the town centre revamp (Image: Bruno Brown)

The borough council said in a statement: "The good weather has meant contractors have been able to get off to a great start on the works to make major improvements to the Market Place in Great Yarmouth.

"The exciting project will create a hugely improved environment for shoppers, businesses and visitors so please bear with us while the work continues.

"And remember, all businesses remain open as usual for the duration of the works.

"The timing of the works was carefully planned to make sure the risk of any delays and cost increases caused by poor weather were minimised. Whenever the works were started they would have overlapped across seasons."