Ivybridge car park works improve accessibility and market opportunities

Car parks and market spaces in Ivybridge have been improved this summer, as part of South Hams District Council's ongoing "commitment to invest in our communities".

The council has carried out a series of works at Leonards Road, Glanvilles Mill and Harford Road car parks, to improve the experience for everyone parking there and to create new opportunities for market traders.

At Glanvilles Mill, the old loading bay has been built up to provide a permanent area for pop-up market stalls near the bridge. The work will allow the market to grow, and support traders in the long-term. The works to the market stall area have been funded by £73,000 of external funding, from UKSPF and REPF. The car park’s taxi bays have also been reconfigured.

The newly created space for market traders in Glansville Mill

Creating additional disabled parking bays has been a priority in the other two car parks; four new bays and four dedicated minibus bays have been added at Leonards Road, while Harford Road now has one additional disabled bay. Both sites have had works carried out to improve their drainage.

The new disabled bay in Harford Road car park 

The minibus bays at Leonards Road mean that the Ivybridge and District Community Transport Association and Devon County Council minibuses can park in the car park.

The new minibuses spaces for community transport vehicles in Leonards Road 

The three car parks have also been resurfaced as part of the works.

Cllr Victor Abbott, Executive Member for Lead Member for Community Services, Operations and Leisure, said: “These works are the latest step in our wider project to refurbish and modernise some of our assets across the district, including our public toilets, bins, benches and car parks.

“While these works sound simple on the surface, they should make a profound difference in the long term both for drivers and for market traders. The visitor experience for those using our car parks should improve, and the new disabled and minibus bays should make visiting Ivybridge more accessible for many.

“The new market trading space creates a permanent space for new market stalls, which will allow the market to grow and remain sustainable into the future. We consulted with the town extensively on the issue, including holding an in-person consultation stall in the old layby. 

“During the three days we were there, hundreds of people told us that the market space should be moved to this newly created space to be safe and sustainable. We've listened and hope that the space will be well used.

“The council is fully committed to support our communities in every way we can, and these sorts of works may appear small in isolation, but when looking across the whole district, they can make a big difference.

"Thank you to the people of Ivybridge for putting up with the works throughout the summer; we know there may have been some disruption, but it will all have been worth it in the years to come.”