Work started on September 6 on the repaving of Blandford town centre, postponed at short notice at the beginning of July.

Part of the Market Place and Marsh & Ham car park are being used for storage of works equipment, and traffic is one-way only into the town along West Street, with bus stops in West Street and East Street relocated further along the road when necessary and sections of roads coned off while the work takes place.

Blandford county councillor Nocturin Lacey-Clarke said he had been given an assurance that part of the Market Place will be left clear to allow the weekly outdoor markets to take place. Negotiations have been taking place with the owners of buildings currently under hoarding and scaffolding to facilitate access.

The whole project is expected to take 12 weeks, and Councillor Lacey-Clarke said he had also been assured that repaving in the Market Place itself would be carried out in the fortnight ending October 29, so that the area could be left clear during the period leading up to Remembrance Sunday, during which a rededication of the memorial plaques on the Town Hall is planned.

The last-minute postponement of the project came when Dorset Council was informed that the suppliers of the new coloured concrete paving were unable to guarantee its arrival in time, and prompted some anger but also relief from traders who had been looking forward to being able to fully reopen after the pandemic lockdowns, but now again face disruption.

The project became necessary when cracking, uneven slabs, first installed at the turn of the century, were removed and replaced with Tarmac not in keeping with the historic setting of the area, and worn and slippery slabs posed a hazard to residents and visitors.

Cllr Cherry Brooks, Dorset Council Lead Member for Highways, said: “We’ve been working hard on this project behind the scenes for quite some time to design a scheme which is fitting for the historic heart of Blandford as well as providing value for money.”

The council’s highways project team worked with their conservation officers, Historic England, Blandford Town Council, the town’s county councillors and members of the community to source an appropriate colour concrete replacement and progress the £300,000 project to replace around 1,800m2 of paving.

It is funded by Dorset Council’s maintenance budget, Section 106 contributions from developers and the sale of the existing paving to a reclamation company for reuse.

Those slabs inscribed with quotations will be retained, as will some of those containing fossils for display elsewhere in the town.

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.