New market hall welcomed despite parking fears

Businesses and shoppers in Stafford have welcomed plans to transform the former Guildhall Shopping Centre into a new market hall, although some have raised concerns about a lack of town centre parking.

The redevelopment will see the site converted into a venue housing 28 independent businesses, including shops, food stalls, cafes and bars, alongside space for events and live performances.

The project has been backed by £10m of government funding secured following a campaign by Stafford MP Leigh Ingham.

"People want to see Stafford town centre doing well again. So do I. And this is a big step towards making that happen," she said.

However, while traders said investment in the town centre was needed, some questioned whether enough had been done to make it easy for customers to visit.

Tim Sandy, owner of French & Byrne cafe bar, said he was excited by the plans but worried about the loss of parking spaces.

"We're very close to where the new market will be and it's really exciting. Anything that happens for town centres now is really, really important," he said.

"My only concern is I've seen the plans and there's no parking being allocated at all, no town centre car park."

He said the town had already lost parking at the former Guildhall Centre and would also lose the car park on the former Wilko site as part of plans for a new college development.

"I do wonder where all this trade and all these customers are going to come from," he said.

"You can see the success of retail parks around Stafford and places like McArthurGlen at Cannock, but all of them have convenient and easy access for vehicles."

Despite those concerns, he said Stafford had the potential to thrive.

"Stafford is a terrific town and lots of us independents are ready to look after you," he added.

Gary Brightwell, co-owner of Hadleigh Jewellers on Gaolgate Street, also questioned whether sufficient parking would be available.

"We're knocking down buildings and we're redeveloping, but we aren't bringing new car parking areas," he said.

"What we need to get into town is proper car parking spaces first and foremost to get people wanting to come into the town."

Brightwell said his business had traded in Stafford for 36 years but had noticed a decline in footfall.

"Without those repeat customers coming back, then sadly we could possibly be a victim of the high street," he said.

"What all shops here are sadly missing is just general footfall."

However, he agreed the funding was positive news for the county town.

"We are the county town and over the last five or six years I think it would be fair to say we've suffered a lot of losses of businesses and big retailers pulling out of the town.

"It is looking a little bit tired, so any investment has got to be positive news."

Residents also broadly welcomed the proposals.

Trish Hill said the redevelopment was preferable to leaving the site vacant.

"It's got to be better than nothing, hasn't it?" she said.

"When you look at Stafford now, they've got to do something with it."

She said bringing a market back to the town would appeal to many residents.

"A lot of older people do like markets and things like that, so anything like that would be good."

She added Stafford's retail offer had changed significantly over the years because of online shopping and out-of-town retail developments.

"They need to rejuvenate in a different way, I suppose," she said.

Dennis Dunn also supported the plans, although he said success would depend on the mix of businesses attracted to the development.

"The town's dead, but the top end, it's all right," he said.

"I think if you've got plenty of variety for eating and things like that, then yeah, maybe."

"It'd be nice if there were some smaller traders as well."

John and Gloria Wilson said they were pleased to see progress being made on the site.

"We could do with the market, couldn't we?" Gloria said.

"It just looks as though they've knocked it down and forgot about it."

John Wilson added: "Honestly, for a county town, it's disgusting.

"Why don't they get on it and start using it? [the £10 million] At least it shows some sign of improvement."

Under the plans, the new market hall will provide space for 28 independent businesses and a business hub aimed at helping local firms start up and grow.

Ingham said Stafford had lost an important part of its identity when the market closed.

"We lost more than somewhere to shop, somewhere to go and something to do," she said.

"We lost a place where people met and where people had another reason to come into our town centre."

She said securing the funding would help Stafford become "a proud market town again", while bringing more visitors and businesses into the town centre.

The market hall funding was announced alongside plans for a new Mayoral Strategic Authority for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Labour MPs from across the area welcomed the proposal, saying it would give local leaders more control over investment, transport, skills and economic growth.

In a joint statement, they said: "This is an important step towards making sure our area has a stronger voice and can shape its own future."

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