Improvements to Shepshed Market Place

Charnwood Borough Council has tarnsformed the area around Market Place in Shepshed to create an open and more pedestrian-friendly space while increasing parking in the area.

The scheme has created a larger pedestrianised area in front of the shops on the corner of Brook Street and Church Street to create a much-improved environment for visitors. The pedestrianised area wioll host small-scale events and market stalls. Pavements have been improved and widened in Market Place and along Brook Street.

Parking has also been increased (further details below).

Pedestrian safety has been improved by realigning Brook Street and the creation of a new 20mph zone. The existing pedestrian crossing has been moved slightly to make it safer to use.

New seating, cycle parking facilities and trees and planting have been added.

This is the first phase of improvements for the town and the Council is aiming to make improvements to the Bull Ring, Hall Croft and Field Street in the future.

Improved safety

Pedestrian safety will be improved by realigning Brook Street and creating a new 20mph zone.

The existing pedestrian crossing will be moved slightly to make it safer to use.

The junction where Loughborough Road, Brook Street and Cheapside meet will also be simplified, with the junction of Cheapside and Brook Street being removed. Access to Cheapside will be via Loughborough Road and Cheapside will become one way.

Parking

There are currently 34 parking spaces in that area and after the work there will be 37 parking spaces plus a designated loading bay.

Currently, there are:

• 12 spaces outside the post office (maximum waiting time 1 hour)
• 2 spaces outside the Post Office for blue badge holders only (no time restriction)
• 2 spaces outside the Crown Hotel on Cheapside (public parking spaces with no waiting time restriction)
• 18 spaces at the northern end of Cheapside (no waiting time restriction – often used by residents but not specifically designated as resident-only parking)
• Total: 34

After the work there will be

• 5 spaces outside the post office (maximum waiting time 1 hour)
• 2 spaces outside the Post Office for blue badge holders only (no time restriction)
• 3 spaces outside the Crown Hotel on Cheapside (public parking spaces with no waiting time restriction)
• 9 spaces at the southern end of Cheapside (maximum waiting time 1 hour)
• 18 spaces at the northern end of Cheapside (no waiting time restriction – often used by residents but not specifically designated as resident-only parking)
• Total: 37

After the work, there will also be the provision of one designated loading bay outside the Post Office. There is currently no specific provision for delivery vehicles, so they have to use a normal parking bay. Therefore, by providing a designated loading bay, this will also benefit shoppers by not having a parking space taken up by delivery vehicles.

Other phases of work

The improvements to Market Place are part of a wider plan to also improve Hall Croft and the Bull Ring. More details on those elements can be found on the Shepshed Town Centre project details webpage.