Work gets under way to transform St Ives shopping street

Stores on The Broadway in St Ives will stay open while construction happens in the summer.

BBC's political correspondent in Cambridgeshire

Construction has started on the main shopping street in a small town to help people move around more easily without relying on their vehicles.

The work on The Broadway in St Ives started by Cambridgeshire County Council on Monday.

Stores will continue to operate during the construction, but a few store owners expressed concerns that customers might be discouraged from visiting.

The council stated that they discussed the project with nearby officials, businesses, and locals. The project is expected to be completed by August 31st.

During the construction, parking on one side of The Broadway is not allowed. Please park on the other side.

The project, with a price tag of approximately £250,000, involves expanding sidewalks and constructing new seating areas.

A new curve will be added to the road to help reduce speed, and a designated area for parking bicycles will be created. As a result, five parking spots for cars will no longer be available.

Parking is currently not allowed on one side of The Broadway, but will soon move to the opposite side.

James Powley expressed his enthusiasm for the upgrades being made to The Broadway.

James Powley, the owner of Commute Cafe, mentioned that he was still contemplating whether he supported the proposals.

"We are undecided at the moment and observing what unfolds, but we are also looking forward to it," he mentioned.

Mr. Powley mentioned that there was an excessive amount of vehicles entering The Broadway and desired for the area to be more attractive for individuals to have a seat and unwind.

"I want to see a larger influx of people visiting the town," he commented.

Store proprietor Corinne Harwood stated that she was "skeptical" about whether the proposed plans would increase business.

Corinne Harwood, who runs a clothing and jewelry store, mentioned that the construction could have a negative effect on sales.

"This part of town has the fewest number of people passing through, and there are only a few stores remaining."

"People enjoy being able to park close by. Moving parking to a distant location deters people from coming."

Ms. Harwood expressed doubt that the plans would increase business.

The owner of the sewing shop, Julie Miles, liked the idea of making the street more convenient for people walking by.

Julie Miles, the proud owner of a small shop that sells sewing supplies and offers sewing classes on The Broadway, was feeling optimistic about the new endeavor.

"I'm very supportive of the pedestrian-friendly initiative and I believe the impact on parking spaces will be minor."

She had conflicting opinions because she believed more action should be taken to prevent illegal parking.

She mentioned that we require traffic enforcement officials to address the recurring problem of individuals parking in any location they please.

The head of the council's highways and transport committee, Alex Beckett, expressed that while the project may cause some inconvenience in the short term, it will ultimately lead to positive outcomes in the long run.

"He expressed the council's priority in supporting projects that embody and advocate for more environmentally friendly, secure, and higher quality travels."

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