PLANS have been announced for a grade II* listed building to be restored to its former glory but will affect parking in Hexham.

County Cllr for Hexham Central with Acomb, Trevor Cessford, and County Cllr for Hexham East, Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, are thrilled with the plans of will be starting next year on the Shambles in the town's Market Place.

The structure was built by Sir Walter Blackett in 1766 and is a historically important asset.

Currently it is in a poor state of repair and is needing urgent work being funded by Northumberland County Council to refurbish the timber beams, timber and stone columns, roof and flooring and the electrics within the structure.

Work is due to start in the New Year on a £300,000 repair and refurbishment scheme of The Shambles which sits within the Market Place in the centre of the Hexham Conservation Area.

A Listed Building application is being submitted in October 2023 and the public will be able to view the plans on the planning portal and on the council website and make comment on refurbishment proposals for The Shambles.
 

Market traders are being consulted about the required repair works as there will be a need to decant activities, whilst works get underway in 2024.
 

Northumberland County Councillor, Wojciech Ploszaj, cabinet member for Supporting Business and Opportunities said:  “It is fantastic that progress is being made to preserve and restore one of the Conservation Area’s most important historical features for generations to come

“The Shambles has a rich history, but it is over 250 years old and in serious need of sympathetic restoration. We are delighted that work will commence next year and will result in an upgraded asset that better support the market activities, whilst also protecting the fabric and setting of this important feature.”

The council has also decided to add safety measures to stop future damage occurring after several incidents over the last years.

Other alterations include changing the parking immediately in front of the Shambles to the four parallel parking bays instead of the ten perpendicular bays that are there at present.

Upon hearing the upcoming plans, Molly Moo's Ice Cream Parlour Jennie Wright said : "[It is] brilliant news about the renovations but reducing the parking bays in an area that brings so much trade for businesses is terrible news. Those spaces have a high turnover of customers due their convenience. The loss of 6 spaces will mean dozens of lost sales per day."

Agreeing with Jennie, Jon Winter adds:"Revamp - yes. Bollards - yes. Change the parking - no. If space is an issue then make the spaces slightly angled and have it one way through the market place."

Adrian Porter also comments and said : "[It] needs more stalls like it used too years ago.

Many residents such as Peter Campbell is looking forward to the revamps and looking at the positives as he claims: "It'll be a proper shambles."