Kettering traders weren't told about "half a job" safety works

"It's going to be absolute bedlam", said one trader
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Parking spaces were removed from a busy Kettering street with a barrier blocking pedestrians from crossing the road - without traders being given any prior warning.

Businesses in Montagu Street were in for a surprise yesterday (Thursday) when highways workers turned up to carry out the work as part of a scheme worked on by Northamptonshire County Council with Kettering Council after emergency 'active travel' funding from the Government.

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A number of parking spaces have been taken away to widen paths for pedestrians and cyclists to help with social distancing, but it means many businesses have nowhere for deliveries to be unloaded. A thick temporary barrier has also been placed down the middle of the street, but it has no gaps meaning pedestrians cannot cross the road to go between shops. Just a few parking spaces remain, near the junction with Eskdaill Street. Parking in the nearby School Lane car park is set to remain free until the end of July but it's not yet known if it will be extended.

Traders say they are blocked off by the barrier in Montagu Street, with parking spaces also removed. Picture by Alison Holland.Traders say they are blocked off by the barrier in Montagu Street, with parking spaces also removed. Picture by Alison Holland.
Traders say they are blocked off by the barrier in Montagu Street, with parking spaces also removed. Picture by Alison Holland.

Businesses in Montagu Street say they weren't told about the plans and that it will have a huge impact on their trade.

Chris Keal, owner of C&D Cycles, wants to know when the barrier will be removed or changed and where his deliveries can be dropped off.

He said: "It's going to have an impact and the barrier stopping people from crossing the road to come to me is not ideal.

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"There's now nowhere for people to unload my product or collect my product.

Parking has been suspended. Picture by Alison Holland.Parking has been suspended. Picture by Alison Holland.
Parking has been suspended. Picture by Alison Holland.

"I think the idea is good but they have just not done it in the correct manner and it's not been thought out. It's a bit half a job, Bob."

Shaun Sedani, owner of Sonora Mexican Kitchen, turned up and was stunned to see the work taking place because nobody had told him about it.

He said: "We've got orders on Uber Eats and Deliveroo and they [delivery drivers] have got nowhere to park. My drivers struggled yesterday, which means delayed orders, which means food starts to get cold.

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"It makes our side of the street look like it's closed down and there's no signs up saying businesses are open as usual."

The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.
The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.

Another trader in Montagu Street, who did not want to be named, said they only got a leaflet yesterday as work started.

They said: "It's going to be absolute bedlam. It's definitely going to have an adverse impact on our trade."

Kettering Council's Labour leader, Cllr Mick Scrimshaw, hit out at the lack of consultation.

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He said: "It may well be that the public health benefits of the proposals will outweigh any inconveniences from the reduction in parking, but I don’t know and we haven't had an opportunity to weigh up the pros and cons and because these proposals were not shared there has been no opportunity to understand and discuss those sorts of benefits.

The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.
The works in Montagu Street. Picture by Alison Holland.

"The council’s job in my mind is not simply to impose on the public what they believe to be the right thing without discussion, but actually to represent the public and take their views and opinions into account.

"In my opinion this particular proposal is a clear example of Kettering Council blindly following a course of action it believes is right without any kind of engagement with the public it is supposed to work for."

Alison Holland, from the Kettering Town Centre Partnership and Northants Streets For All network, said: "They have not really thought it through in terms of making the street attractive and making it easy for people to go to different shops on different sides of the road.

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"I get what they are trying to do, but they have gone a bit over the top with the measures."

And Dez Dell from the Kettering Green Party said: "While I'm sure Northants Highways mean well, this needs more thought. Pedestrians need to be able to cross the road and businesses need to accept deliveries."

A Kettering Council spokesman said: "The Emergency Active Travel Fund, on which Northamptonshire County Council are leading, has been provided by central government in order to implement temporary changes to public realm. This includes widening pavements and suspending on-street parking.

"It is vital that businesses are able to re-open safely and that shoppers, pedestrians and visitors feel safe and are able to maintain social distance when moving around our towns.

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"These initiatives are being focused on areas where, as it is not possible for social distancing to be maintained, it would therefore pose a health and safety issue for pedestrians.

"It should be recognised that health and safety remains the priority.

"Car parking within Kettering Council car parks remains free at all times with the nearest free car park to Montagu Street being School Lane. Additionally there remains a limited provision of on-street parking on Montagu Street."

The Northants Telegraph has contacted both Northamptonshire County Council for a response to the traders' concerns.

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