Pedestrian revamp is lauded, but more must be done, say businesses

BUSINESS owners located along Market Street, Southport, have said that the recently pedestrianised thoroughfare looks "lovely" but they would appreciate more signage to draw shoppers to the area.

- BY EMMA MORGAN

Market Street has been pedestrianised

(Images provided by Emma Morgan)

Work began on the area around Market Street, King Street and Eastbank Street in January 2025 as part of Sefton Council's Les Transformations de Southport project.

The £6.5m scheme, which was completed in the winter, has seen Market Street pedestrianised and King Street made one-way, with widened foot paths and banks of benches and planters installed.

The work came as part of a broader effort to invest in Southport's visitor economy and to boost footfall between different parts of the town, encouraging people to stay longer in the market quarter.

Now that the weather has improved and summer is on the way, the LDRS spoke with local businesspeople to see if the scheme is starting to bear fruit.

Lauren Wickham, who has run The Cake Box on Market Street for five years, said that the artisan market that now happens once a month in the area "has definitely helped. That brings a lot of people. On the first weekend that it happened I sold out of everything".

In general, Ms Wickham, who won Southport independent retailer of the year, added that she finds the street is now "a nice open space; it's brighter and more attractive".

"I've been here five years so I've seen quite a lot of changes. Before, people came to park on the street but didn't come into the shops, whereas now they do.

"I'm always really busy. It's been really good," she said.

Tracy Jones, who runs The Plant Room next door but one, said that she has found that the street has been "pretty quiet apart from weekends and when the market is putting on events".

"Maybe in the summer it will pick up," she added. "It looks like a nice space now. It's really brightened the area up."