Councillor Assures Cambridge Market’s Survival Amidst Civic Quarter Revitalization Plans

A councillor stated that an authority is not “out to destroy” a market slated for transformation as part of a £12.6 million Civic Quarter project. Simon Smith, the executive councillor for finance and resources at Cambridge City Council, responded to concerns that proposed improvements to Market Square might jeopardize the market. The council has put forward changes to the market as part of its Civic Quarter project, which additionally encompasses proposals to enhance the Guildhall and the Corn Exchange. Councillor Smith remarked, “There are people worried that we are about to destroy the market; if there is one thing about the 1,200-year market it is resilience.” The proposed plans involve resurfacing Market Square to enhance accessibility, replacing existing stalls with 27 new permanent ones beneath a lightweight canopy, and constructing 64 demountable stalls for “additional trading” during weekends and peak seasons. While the council estimated the entire project’s cost to be approximately £12.6 million, it has initially proposed an investment of £3 million specifically for resurfacing the market. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, some market traders have voiced apprehensions regarding the proposals, including the potential reduction in market size and doubts about the practicality of the demountable stalls. Smith clarified that the project remains in its preliminary phases and that the authority intends to engage in discussions about designs and proposals with both traders and the public. At a full council meeting held on Thursday, he asserted: “It survived Vikings, Norman Conquest, several outbreaks of the Black Death, Civil War, multiple harvest failures, innumerable economic recessions, two world wars, can we just get a sense of perspective in this city, this council is not out to destroy the market.” A planning application for the proposed work is anticipated to be submitted next summer. Liberal Democrat councillor Karen Young expressed support for the project’s objectives, noting that enhancements to the Guildhall could lead to cost reductions for the council. She commented, “These are not nice to have, not luxury projects, [but] they are very important for our city.” Conversely, Labour councillor Mark Ashton, while agreeing with the project, highlighted a “big difference between vision and reality.” He cautioned that the council must ensure it is not “biting off more than it can chew” and demonstrate to the residents of Cambridge how the work will be financed “without implications to them.” For further Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.