News
Full steam ahead on Broad Street as Fenland Council says it’s all systems go, too, for Christmas
Latest photos of work to transform the centre of March
The show, as they say, must go on and for this year’s major Christmas market in March it means Broad Street will be an exclusion zone, but the rest of the town will be open for business. It will take place on Sunday December 3 from 10am to 3pm and the free event is again expected to attract up to 150 stallholders.
Fenland District Council has announced the Christmas market will use March Market Place, High Street, City Road, and March Library.
Broad Street, March, progress on a multi-million-pound regeneration; latest photos taken at the weekend show the gradual transformation under way. PHOTO: Terry Harris
The event is free to attend and hosts over 150 stalls offering a wonderful range of gifts, crafts and produce. Visitors can enjoy hot festive food and live entertainment. Santa will be located on the Market Place as will some free of charge rides.
Book a stall
To book a stall at the event, please follow the guidance on the council’s events page.
Keep up to date with what’s happening by following the council on Facebook.
Meanwhile, as can be seen from the photos, work continues apace on the regeneration and here are some useful links provided by Fenland Council
Regular updates are displayed in the window at Octavius site office, 2 Broad Street and also available at: www.fenland.gov.uk/BroadStreetNewsletters
Project or design enquiries email: HighStreetProject@fenland.gov.uk
Broad Street, March, progress on a multi-million-pound regeneration; latest photos taken at the weekend show the gradual transformation under way. PHOTO: Terry Harris
Octavius general enquiries email: Marchproject@octaviusinfrastructure.co.uk
March frequently asked questions and answers: www.fenland.gov.uk/MarchRegenerationFAQs
The project to transform the Broad Street road layout is being delivered through Cambridgeshire County Council’s March Area Transport Study (MATS), funded by a combination of a £4.2million investment from MATS and £3.6million from the March Future High Streets Fund programme.
The council says the project is the result of several years of consultation with the public as part of the Growing Fenland work and MATS, “as well as in response to the future needs of the town as it continues to grow”.
The project has several key aims:
- To increase capacity for future anticipated growth in the town
- To offer a more open, social, and pedestrian-friendly environment
- To increase traffic flow through the town centre, reducing standing traffic
- To reduce pollution
- To revitalise the public realm of the town
- To bring back into focus key historic points of interest
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Broad Street, March, progress on a multi-million-pound regeneration; latest photos taken at the weekend show the gradual transformation under way. PHOTO: Terry Harris
Design concepts/headline improvements:
- Traffic signals removed at northern end of the road and replaced with a new mini roundabout
- Northbound roadway removed with conversion to pedestrian space
- Conversion of the southbound lanes to a north/south roadway
- Historic water fountain relocated to a more accessible public space
- Creation of several new zebra crossings throughout the street
- The relocation of two double length bus stops
The council says the improvements will be complimented by “a raft of public realm enhancements, including new paving, planters, trees and bike racks, delivered and funded through the March Future High Streets programme”.
