Free parking trial on the way as traders in Doncaster market town start getting back on their feet after lockdown

With the coronavirus spreading, she saw the figures on the news and worried about what was happening with a new virus that was spreading across the UK.

But as the operator of the fruit and veg market stall in the heart of Bawtry, the crisis saw business boom.

Helen and her team were among those who had to work on through the crisis as the country still needed to eat.

She and her team next to the Market Place car park were among the few souls on the streets of the town through March and April, and as shoppers stripped the shelves of the supermarkets, many turned to the Cairns Bawtry stall to keep themselves fed. Paradoxically, the easing of lockdown has slowed things down for them.

"It was busy, busy, busy during lockdown,” she said. “People didn’t want to go into the supermarkets, they preferred to shop in the open air.

“But since then, it has dropped a lot.

"People are starting to come back to Bawtry. There are few more people coming back in the evenings now.

"We need the support of the public now – we need people coming to the little businesses, not just the big chains. Perhaps an hour's free parking would help too.”

Helen’s case is unusual.

While she and her team were working, the shops and restaurants which traditionally have made Bawtry a bustling centre were silent, the staff furloughed and the doors shut.

Gradually, things are starting to return to normal.

Among the most recent to reopen is high street furniture and accessories store Womack’s of Bawtry.

They only re-opened on July 17.

Owner David Womack felt it was not worth opening until people were returning to the town to shop.

He is still not ready to open the seven days a week that the shop was open until March – at present he is only opening on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

"I felt it was a waste of time opening when no one was around,” he said. “It is still quiet, and I think we need people to come out and spend the money that they have saved during lockdown.

“I am concerned that compulsory masks may put people off. But we are doing everything that we should be doing. There is social distancing in place, we are cleaning thoroughly and regularly. People shouldn’t be afraid to come out but many people are still not coming out. I do think free parking would help us.”

Further along High Street, Gary Bates was getting used to wearing his face mask, now compulsory in shops.

His Bawtry Shoe Company store re-opened on June 15, the first day they were allowed to return.

The first task was to re-stock, as the lines that were on sale in March were no longer for the right season. The shop was re-arranged to allow more space for social distancing.

"We were pleased to have something to do,” he said. “The first few days were quite buoyant – I think people were enthusiastic to get out. It’s dipped, but it’s gradually building back up. We’re not 100 per cent but we’re OK, and pleased to see regular customers back. Shoppers seem pleased we’re back and keen to support local independents. I think we’re able to react quicker than the big chains.

"Once the hairdressers, restaurants and cafes re-opened, I think there has been an increased footfall. The virus is not going away, so it’s going to be like this for a while now.”

Across the road at the Town House pub and restaurant, assistant manager Katy Ford now dons a transparent visor for work, since re-opening on July 4.

Her feeling is that business is picking up to normal levels, helped by warm weather which has seen people out and keen to eat and drink on the outside tables.

"Food has been back to normal by comparison with pre-lockdown levels,” she said. “It’s the times that have changed. We used to be busy with breakfasts from 9am, but things aren’t really starting until 10am or 10.30am now. The main loss is on Sundays, as we used to have live music. We can’t do that at the moment.

"We have recently seen people starting coming from outside Bawtry. Traditionally people have stopped here on their way to places like the coast. We need people to come in from outside.”

Off the main road, in Dower House Square, artist and art shop owner John Bird has just served a customer who has come in for a picture frame.

He re-opened on June 17, and says he has been busy.

He said: "We have a lot of people coming in to pick up frames,” he said. “We’ve also sold a number of original paintings, and got commissions for a number of artists we work with. Considering everything, it is pretty much back to normal as it was pre-lockdown.

"It was difficult going through lockdown because I like working. but we had a surge of orders over the internet."

He says Bawtry has always seen a lot of visitors, and many people used the town as a half-way meeting place, where people living in the north or the south could meet up. He hopes that tradition will return.

The issue raised by shops over free parking is not likely to change in the next few weeks – but next year Bawtry Town Council is looking to trial it.

Clerk Angela Harrison said: “We have a contract at present with Excel Parking who manage the car park. The contract expires in May 2021 when the council will be looking at making changes to the current charging structure. An initial free half hour and an adjustment of the operational hours will be trialled at that time. This will then be reviewed after six months to assess the impact before any long term changes are confirmed.”