AS THE Wokingham Paper went to press, Wokingham Borough Council announced that Market Place won’t be completed by the end of the month – Friday, August 31 – as previously promised.
They also said that a new safety audit will be carried out in response to our story last week highlighting the many trips and slips that pedestrians have suffered in the past fortnight.
The delay to completion is caused by snagging issues.
In a statement, the borough council said that these final issues have proved more problematic than hoped and, along with the sealing and cleaning of the site, will now take place over the next few weeks.
It will, the council is promising, be fully complete ahead of the Market Celebration and Heritage Day event on Saturday September 15. Previous completion dates have been end of March, the summer, end of July and the end of August.
However, the market will return from its 12-month sojourn to Erftstadt Court, launching with the farmers’ market taking place next Thursday – September 6.
Wokingham Borough Council executive member for town centre regeneration Cllr Philip Mirfin said: “We know it has been a long and frustrating wait and apologise for that, but the new Market Place looks fantastic and it will be great to see market traders back in their rightful place [next week].
“There are still a few issues to sort out but the Farmers’ Market is a good opportunity to come into town and see the improvements.”
Concerns remain over the height of the kerb in Market Place, which has seen people trip and fall as a result of it being just a couple of inches in height.
Last week’s Wokingham Paper revealed that an ambulance had had to be called out for one such incident and the council said that it has also received calls from concerned residents.
In its statement, the council said that these concerns are now being considered as part of a safety audit that of the site.
It did add that disability access groups, including those representing blind and partially sighted people were fully involved at the design stage and pledged to carry out any appropriate remedial action.
Cllr Mirfin added: “We are taking the comments received and incidents reported seriously and they will be considered as part of the safety audit. “We did work hard with access groups to get the design right but are not complacent and will do anything that is necessary to ensure the town centre is safe and accessible.”
