Town centre party to celebrate end of works

The party, organised by Wellingborough Council and the Town Centre Partnership, takes place along the length of the street as well as at the town centre's Croyland Gardens, where a new zoo-inspired play area has just been completed.

The party will feature magicians, face painting, street entertainers, giveaways, an Easter egg hunt, inflatables, fairground rides, Punch and Judy shows and more. It will be officially opened by the Mayor, Cllr Lora Lawman, with a ribbon cutting at Croyland Gardens at 11am. Competition winners, who have seen their animal designs from a schools competition engraved on boulders and stepping stones in the play area, will also be present and will release balloons to mark the occasion. The party will then move to Market Street, with another ribbon cutting there at 12pm.

The work on Market Street is almost finished, with this week set aside for final touch ups. The permanent tarmac went down today, and new lamp columns will be put in place later this week. All the paving slabs will be sealed over the evenings of Wednesday-Friday and they will be cleaned at the end of the week.

Jennifer Bell from Wellingborough Council said: "We are really looking forward to the party on Saturday. It will be a proper family event, with lots of entertainment and plenty for everyone to enjoy. We know from the event held last year on Sheep Street and Silver Street that a party like this not only brings our community together, it also reminds people about what makes our town centre special and helps bring people into our local shops. We've relied heavily on donations and support from partners such as the traders and our contractors, and it shows that by everyone working together we can put on a successful community event for very little money.

"The work along Market Street has no doubt been an inconvenience to both the traders and the public, but the feedback we've received now it's done is really positive. One trader said to me that the biggest improvement is that they now feel part of the town centre, whereas before they were a bit removed. I hope that as the area is more attractive and pedestrian-friendly, people will take the opportunity to discover, or rediscover, all our unique and independent shops, with all the benefits they can offer. We'd love to see as many people as possible in the town on Saturday for what promises to be a truly magical day."

Wellingborough Council worked with Northamptonshire County Council and the North Northants Development Company to secure significant government funding to meet the cost of the Market Street improvements.