Long Sutton market location under discussion amid public safety fears

Public safety issues could force a traffic ban for Long Sutton Market Place when the market is in town.

A public meeting has been called on Monday to discuss a range of options for the market.

“The close proximity of moving vehicles to pedestrians, traders and customers as the market is erected, during trading hours and while stalls are dismantled, being the major issue,” says a letter to members of the parish council.

A report has been compiled by Compass Point Business Services Health and Safety team which concludes the market is a high risk.

Three options have been put forward to reduce the risk to both stall-holders and shoppers.

The market should be moved, closed or West Street and the Market Place should be closed to traffic on market days.

The preferred option is a traffic ban on market days to increase safety.

District council member Andrew Tennant said any change should be seen as an opportunity to revitalise the market.

“There is only one option really, but closing it to traffic is not without problems. The traffic will have to go somewhere, it won’t just disappear and the alternatives of Swapcote Land and Bull Lane are not great,” he said.

“The Friday market really does bring the town to life and is an important part of Long Sutton.

“We should use this chance to revitalise the market and not just ban the traffic and leave it at that,” he added.

The letter, from South Holland District Council, says the option to be pursued is that of closing the roads to traffic.

“The area in question would be barriered off to traffic to created a better and safer layout for the market. Appropriate changes would be made to reposition the disabled parking bays and to create a turning point,” says the letter to parish councillors.

It is envisaged that any changes would be introduced with the ‘minimum of inconvenience to local business and residents.’

The public meeting will be held at the baptist church from 7pm on November 14 and members of the district and parish council are also due to attend.