Ludlow’s Chamber of Trade is holding an open meeting to discuss plans to redesign the market square, ahead of a final decision by the town council on March 31.
The architect responsible for the project will be in Ludlow College’s Harley Centre from 11am-3pm tomorrow (Saturday) to answer questions and explain the thinking behind the two options.
The Chamber of Trade will then show the plans with a short presentation to outline the options in the back room of the Bull Hotel at 5.45pm on Tuesday, March 18.
The idea is to generate discussion. Chamber of Trade Chair Peter Cook said: “It’s important to get it right for the retail future of the town.”
The two options the town council has put forward for the redesign are:
Option A – layout as at present, with a row of mobile units. This means staying with the current market layout, which many market traders are happy with, but upgrading the stalls. This option also has less flexibility for an open space in the town centre.
Option B – with flexible open area for mobile units.
Change the layout, moving the mobile units and giving a more welcoming view of the trading area. This links the market stalls with the shops in the square, and is a safer, flexible layout for traders and for customers.
Views of the market from High Street and the Woolworth’s side of the square will be more attractive, and the open area can be configured with vans or pitches in different ways. The open area could also be used when markets are not running.
Peter Cook has been representing the Chamber of Trade on the steering group that has been meeting since October last year to investigate how to improve the market square.
He said: “I believe Option B gives shoppers a much more welcoming view of the market and integrates the market with the rest of the retailers operating in the town centre. This would be my choice of the two options.”
Mr Cook invited people to disagree, and said everyone was welcome at the meeting whether they were members of Ludlow Chamber or not.
Ludlow Chamber of Trade has published full details of the two options for the new layout of Ludlow market on its website, www.ludlowonline.co.uk, and will be distributing a letter to the town’s businesses inviting traders to to discuss the options and including a feedback form. These have to be sent to the town council by March 19. All members of the public, not just businesses, are invited to make their views known to the town council. They are also welcome to attend the meeting, at 8.30pm on March 31, in the Bishop Mascall Centre.
