Traders to be allowed temporary parking space at Earlestown market

One of the main features of Earlestown's huge £28m regeneration plans is the project to transform the town's historic market square into a modern space complete with an all-weather canopy and room for indoor and outdoor traders.

However, with many traders not wholly convinced by the plans and the issue of vehicle access continuing to crop up, a study has been conducted to address these concerns and find a solution.

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Vehicle access concerns

Traders like raised concerns about off-site parking and vehicle access (Image: St Helens Star) At present, the majority of traders park next to their stalls in Earlestown, so that they can unload their products, re-stock if necessary, and quickly pack up at the end of the day.

With many traders working independently, this is why vehicle access has been of central importance, as there are concerns about leaving stock and stalls when needing to restock.

While it is aware of this sticking point, the council believes that "indiscriminate" parking has led to a "lack of structure" in Earlestown, which restricts the market square from "fulfilling its potential as a safe and inviting space".

To alleviate this problem, the council submitted proposals in its planning application to restrict vehicle access through planters, trees, seating blocks, and bollards. 

However, as concerns have continued to be raised, recommendations from the parking survey have now been published ahead of the impending planning application decision.

Temporary on-site parking

The bulk of traders currently park on site in Earlestown (Image: St Helens Star)

With the study undertaken by a third-party provider and combining CCTV and in-person surveys, the results have highlighted that there is "sufficient capacity in council-owned car parks and on-street parking locations in Earlestown to remove all non-market day parking from the Market Square".

However, the study also recommended that additional parking is created for market trader's vehicles on days when the market is operating.

As a result of the study, the council has confirmed plans to continue to allow market traders to park in the square when the market is operating, on a temporary basis.

Market traders will be permitted to park at designated areas within the square while options to create appropriate, secure alternative parking and servicing facilities are progressed.

The interim measures will include a new layout of Earlestown Market to ensure that trader vehicles are screened and clear customer walkways are identified.

'Successful market must include appropriate parking'

There have been proposals to restrict vehicle access in the newly regenerated square (Image: St Helens Council/ ECF) Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment said: “We understand that parking in Earlestown is a sensitive subject, and we have always been clear that comprehensive surveys would be used to inform decisions to ensure Earlestown has an appropriate and fit-for purpose parking management plan.

"The Market Square’s current use for indiscriminate parking does not help to create a welcoming high-quality and multi-purpose space that will provide a better environment for traders and shoppers and encourage more people to spend time in Earlestown throughout the week.

“After liaising with traders and listening to their concerns, this study has confirmed that there is sufficient capacity to remove all non-market day parking from the Market Square, which can be accommodated in other council-owned car parks and on-street parking areas within the town centre.

"It also affirms our belief that a successful market must include appropriate parking for market traders and so as an interim measure, we propose that market traders will continue to park at designated areas within the Market Square while we work to create appropriate, secure alternative parking and servicing facilities close to the market.”

Proposals to grow market 'long into the future'

An interim parking strategy has been proposed (Image: St Helens Council/ ECF) Councillor Richard McCauley Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth & Regeneration, added: “The proposals for Earlestown will provide high-quality, sheltered trading space to support and grow Earlestown’s historic market long into the future and provide an attractive and flexible space to host events and community uses all year round.

“The Council and its development partners are currently exploring several options to create appropriate alternative parking and vehicle servicing facilities for market traders, and we will continue to keep local people updated as the exciting proposals for Earlestown’s revival progress.”

The parking recommendations can be viewed online here and are subject to a 14-day consultation period beginning on 5 November. More information on the regeneration plans can be found at www.earlestown.co.uk