MAPPLEWELL business owners came together to ‘reopen’ the village’s centre on Saturday after four months of roadwork misery severely hampered trade.
Shops were decorated and offers were put on to entice custom back after what owners described as one of the worst summers for takings in its history, with Bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan on ribbon-cutting duty to mark the end of the work and the relaunch of Mapplewell.
Its centre now has new block paving on its paths, stainless steel bollards to stiffen up pedestrian safety and a blue bench as part of Section 106 fund works money set aside by developers to improve the local area.
But although it’s received a mixed response, resurfacing and roadworks which began at the start of June and only finished two weeks ago were the main bones of contention for traders.
Dave Lockwood, who runs The Wentworth Arms and The Talbot, said: “It was a successful event and one which businesses got involved in. It was important to do it as we need to claw back the custom we’ve lost over a torrid 18 weeks of work. People were put off from coming in over the summer due to the roadworks.
“Luckily the weather was good, which always helps, and hopefully it will kick-start people coming back into Mapplewell which is a great village centre that has lots of shops.”
Ron Ford, who runs retailer Budgens, told the Chronicle his weekly turnover has been down by £5,000 because of the ongoing work while Beverley Kellett, of Pet Barn, said her trade was down by 25 per cent over the summer months.
She said: “It’s not just that we’ve all had to contend with, it’s also the bollards which have been placed right outside the shop.
“They’re meant to make Mapplewell look more attractive but the work hasn’t been done to a high standard. Because we can’t park at the front of our shop now and the back is too narrow, we’re having to load a big trolley in the car park off Spark Lane and risk pushing it across the road.”
However, Coun Roy Miller
said the public realm improvement works were the subject of a consultation.
“It’s been an extremely difficult time and it’s taken a while for the roadworks to be completed, but it’s now finished and I think the village centre looks fantastic,” he said.
“Pedestrian safety is key to the placing of the bollards and they’re already doing their job two have been hit by HGVs so it doesn’t bear thinking about if that was a pedestrian, a wheelchair or a pushchair that had been hit.
“It shows they’re there for a reason to keep people safe. It’s important to emphasise this as there have been one or two complaints.
“It’s fantastic the shops came together to relaunch Mapplewell and I’m very pleased the works have been finished.”
