Market place reopens to traffic after upgrade

Granite cobbles and York stone setts have been laid across the site

Grantham's market place has reopened to traffic following work to improve the town centre.

Several months of roadworks were in place to raise the road to the same level as the pavement and lay a new road surface.

The second phase is now under way to improve the approach to the railway station.

The project was financed by the £4.1m Grantham Future High Street Fund, awarded to South Kesteven District Council by central government in 2020.

The council said the project would "drive footfall to town centre businesses and the market area in Westgate, and create a multi-use, social space for local people and visitors in the heart of town”.

Councillor Ashley Baxter said: “We really appreciate the patience of traders and other local businesses during the past few months.

"I am delighted and relieved that the market place is fully open.”

The council said it had undertaken other projects to improve shop fronts and said it had tried to encourage upper-floor conversions to bring in more affordable housing to the town centre.

Baxter said the council was looking forward to hosting a Festival of the Community event including a lantern parade on Saturday 19 October.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.