Call to support traders during town's renovation

People have been encouraged to continue to support traders in a market during a 10-week renovation project in a town centre.

Norfolk County Council said it would be carrying out the work in Dereham's town centre which would see the relocation of disabled parking bays, new bus shelters and an improved zebra crossing.

The work has been scheduled to begin on 12 January and is part of the county council's bus service improvement plan.

Stuart Green, a councillor and head of the markets and buildings committee at Dereham Town Council, said the authority was trying to "encourage many people" to use the market despite the road closures.

The county council said the proposal aimed to increase bus stop capacity, enhance safety and accessibility at busy stops and reduce congestion.

It said the project would go ahead using money from £15.9m in funding it had received from the Department for Transport for the 2025/26 financial year.

The work included disabled parking bays being relocated, more cycle stands, three new bus shelters with screens displaying arrival times, resurfacing of three areas and a new raised-table zebra crossing.

The market area of the town would be closed for the duration of the work and bus services would be relocated, the county council said.

It said the market would still operate on Tuesdays and Fridays and traders would still be able to have access.

Dereham Town Council encouraged people to support the market's traders during what it called a "challenging period".

Mr Green said the works were "not ideal" but were needed and that the area would "see the benefits".

Mr Green said: "If people don't use the markets, the markets won't continue because they need the footfall and they need people to use them."

He said he understood that road closures would be present, but asked people to find alternative routes to keep supporting traders.

"If there's no-one buying the goods then there won't be anyone to sell the goods."

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