Work gets under way to transform St Ives shopping street

Works have begun on a market town’s shopping street to make it easier for people to get around without their cars.

Cambridgeshire County Council began construction on The Broadway in St Ives on Monday.

Businesses remain open during the works, but some shop owners said they were worried visitors would be deterred.

The council said it consulted with local councillors, businesses and residents about the project, which should be finished by 31 August.

The project, costing about £250,000, includes widening footpaths and creating new places to sit.

There will be a new chicane to slow down traffic and bicycle parking, with five car parking spaces being permanently removed.

Parking has been temporarily suspended on one side of The Broadway, before it switches to the other side.

James Powley, owner of the Commute Cafe, said he was still deciding whether he welcomed the plans.

“We’re sitting on the fence a little bit and just waiting to see what happens, but we’re also excited about it,” he said.

Mr Powley said there were “too many cars” coming into The Broadway and wanted the area to be more appealing for people to sit and relax.

“I’d like to see more people coming into town,” he said.

Corinne Harwood owns a clothing and jewellery shop and said the works could impact trade.

“This area has the lowest footfall and we’ve got so few shops left.

“People like to nip in. If you push parking further afield it puts people off.”

Ms Harwood said she was “not convinced” the plans would boost trade.

Julie Miles, owner of a haberdashery and sewing workshop on The Broadway, was hopeful about the project.

“I’m really positive about the pedestrianisation and I think the loss of parking spaces will be minimal.”

She had “mixed views” overall, because she wanted to see more done to stop illegal parking.

“We need traffic enforcement officers to tackle the same old issue of people parking whenever, wherever,” she said.

Alex Beckett, chairman of the council’s highways and transport committee, said the project would bring some “temporary disruption” but long-term benefits overall.

“We want to support projects that embrace and promote greener, safer and better-quality journeys, which is a priority for the council,” he said.