MELKSHAM’S Market Place could become a continental-style ‘piazza’ in a bid to attract shoppers back to the town centre.
The idea is one of many by Melksham Town Council, who hope to rejuvenate the High Street. The council intends to explore options to purchase tables, chairs and possibly umbrellas – providing visitors with a place to sit, and consume takeaway food from local cafés and restaurants that have limited indoor seating due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Leader of Melksham Town Council, Vanessa Fiorelli, told Melksham News, “This is something that has been talked about for a while, we have got this great space, we need to use it! It’s an exciting idea – and especially at this time, we need to encourage as many people back to the town centre as possible – the atmosphere would be amazing, especially on the days of the Makers Market and Tuesday market. It’s an idea that will also support a number of local businesses – with cafés limited as to how many people they can seat inside, they are offering people takeaway – but where do these people sit?
“If there is a Market Place piazza, these people can enjoy their takeaway food in comfort.
“If we go ahead with the idea there is still work to be done to consider the logistics of how the area will be managed to ensure we are meeting ‘Covid-secure guidelines’.”
Councillors at this week’s community development committee voted in favour of exploring options for creating the ‘piazza’, including using tables and chairs currently not in use at the Arthouse Café, which announced its permanent closure last month.