Market Square plans divide opinion

Business owners voice concerns

Plans by Castletown Commissioners to permanently pedestrianise Market Square have split opinion within the local community.

The authority voted to ‘reclaim’ the public space at a meeting last week, and have submitted orders to the Department of Infrastructure to close the square to parking.

Chairman of Castletown Commissioners Colin Leather says many in the town were ‘desperate’ for the area to be pedestrianised, citing a survey conducted by the Board in which 71% of respondents supported the move.

He says the decision was also based on positive feedback from the public.

Mr Leather has dismissed concerns about a loss of parking, stating many sites were now available such as the old fire station, the Dandara car park, and spaces by the Old Grammar School, all within a few minutes walk of the square.

But many local shop owners are opposed to the pedestrianisation on a number of grounds, and feel they’ve been ignored by commissioners.

Emma Mullinor, the manager of the Radcliffe’s Castle Deli, says there’s no problem closing the square during major events, but parking in the square is vital for local businesses, allowing customers easy access to come and go.

She’s worried that commissioners have been ‘blindsided by the lovely summer’, and she can’t see many people ‘eating chips cheese and gravy in the rain during winter time’.

Earlier this year the Commissioners floated the idea of introducing a 30 minute stay zone in the centre, something Ms Mullinor would support.

Owner of the Gaslight Gift Shop, Sheree Bolleurs is also against the plan, and says her customers are mainly elderly residents who can’t walk far, and not tourists.