Businesses brace themselves after Sleaford Market Place closes for six month revamp

Businesses in Sleaford are concerned about the impact of the six month closure for pedestrianisation works, but vow to “keep positive” and reassure customers that business remains open as usual.

Upon completion, the site will have new planters and restrict cars to create a public open space, while preserving the existing war memorial and surrounding it with more green spaces.

It has proven highly controversial, with petitions boasting thousands of signatures brought to the council in opposition to the scheme, and businesses along the Market Square arguing footfall will be impacted by the removal of car park provision near their premises.

On the final day before closure, though, the message was clear from businesses in the area — they are here and open to serve customers throughout these upcoming months of construction works, but it won’t be an easy ride.

The businesses were preparing for large barriers to go up around the Market Place while work takes place, blocking the view to their units and perhaps making it a more unsightly prospect than before.

Ozkan (Ozzy) Nacar jointly runs Anatolia Meze & Grill at the Market Place, a restaurant that opened earlier this year, as well as Pizza Delight, and he said he is “concerned” about the impact of losing parking spaces near his businesses.

“It’s going to be horrendous while the building work goes on,” he said. “While that happens it will be hard, but once it’s done we will just have to deal with it.”

He predicts an “immediate effect” on the businesses while construction takes place, but hopes the support of his loyal customers and the wider community can get them through a difficult period.

“We really need the support of our Sleaford community because it will be hard times, and with the economic difficulties already going on, we need all the help we can get.

“Obviously having car parking is a bonus, but if people like our food they will come and eat here while parking elsewhere.

“I just want to reassure people that we will still be open and doing our absolute best to serve our customers.”

Sam Pavlou recently opened dessert shop Waffle & Chill on the Market Square, shortly after selling her previous business, Italian restaurant Tiamo, whose premises is now occupied by Anatolia Meze & Grill.

She said the town has “no option but to deal with” the Market Place proposal, and called for a “focus on positivity.”

“We opened last week and want to make the absolute most of this opportunity. It’s been the talk of the town for months and months, and will continue to be the talk of the town for months and months after that, we just have to work with what we’ve got.

“We need to embrace change and be more positive, and we’re really lucky in Sleaford because we have a great community spirit, whether it’s business to business or business to customer.

“It’s a very controversial plan but for us as a business it means people can walk to me, they can get a delivery, or they can sit in this lovely pedestrianised area they will create.”

However, long time campaigner against the proposal and business owner Wendy Hanslip, of Bellissimo Boutique, still holds fears of the loss of custom.

Pointing out how busy the car park was on Friday, she called it a “conveyor belt of cars” and said she is “absolutely dreading” the prospect of those potential customers being told to park elsewhere.

“I’ve already had customers come and tell me they won’t be able to come back because of mobility issues. It was a convenient space for people to park and shop in the town centre.

“This morning (Friday) we couldn’t even get parked because it was so full, so I had to be dropped off and then my husband drove the car home.”

For Wendy, it just feels like another obstacle she will have to overcome, having narrowly survived the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We weathered the COVID storm but we had government help that time, there’s no help for this. We even have to buy our own banners to say we’ll still be open despite the construction.

“The number one question I keep asking is where are all of these people going to park? And where are we going to unload our stock? What normally takes me 15 minutes could take me well over an hour as I carry clothes across two lanes of traffic to my shop.”