Local business owners have hailed the start of building work to revamp the historic Cambridge Arcade in Southport town centre.
The historic Victorian arcade, which was built in 1852-1853, is a stunning landmark which links the Town Hall Gardens and the Lord Street boulevard with the busy Chapel Street shopping area.
But in recent months, the arcade – home to dozens of local independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants – has steadily fallen into disrepair.
Holes have formed in the canopy, a pane of glass has even fallen through, lighting has broken, paint has peeled away, flooding has happened during heavy rain and pigeons have become a constant nuisance.
Traders are now delighted to see workers on site and scaffolding being installed in a bid to restore the beautiful arcade and attract more visitors to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Sefton Council has invested £400,000 to enable Phase One of the project to take place.
This includes replacing the overhead glazing, installing a new drainage system and implementing additional pigeon control measures.
Further works under the second phase of the scheme, from the Chapel Street entrance to Cambridge Arcade, are due to take place later in the year.
Work is taking place to repair and restore Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Officers from Sefton Council’s Property and Building Services Department have met with businesses in the arcade to discuss the works and take on board any feedback and answer any questions.
Traders are eager to encourage people to continue supporting the businesses inside Cambridge Arcade and Cambridge Walks with works expected to take around six months.
Hopes are also growing about works also being carried out soon to transform the former BHS department store along one side of the arcade. Planning permission for that scheme has been granted by Sefton Council, for JSM Company Group to create 30 new aparthotel rooms on the first, second, third and fourth floors with three shops, a cafe and a pub on the ground floor.
John Savage, who owns the M.I.H. Bazaar shop inside Cambridge Walks, said: “It’s really good news to see the work starting!
“We are heading in the right direction finally. It’s been a long time coming.
“We have been told that it is going to take six weeks to install all the scaffolding inside the arcade. They will get access from the Lord Street end, with a works compound set up in the Town Hall Gardens. They also have a site office at the entrance of the arcade.
“The work is due to take place for around 26 weeks, which is a long time.There is a lot of work to be done!
Work is taking place to repair and restore Cambridge Arcade in Southport. John Savage owner of MIH Bazaar (right). Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“We would like to let people know that all of the superb shops, cafes, restaurants and bars inside Cambridge Arcade and Cambridge Walks will remain open during the course of works taking place.
“There are so many great local, independent businesses in here, we hope local people will continue to support us.
“The contractors will install large boards at each end of the arcade letting people know that everyone here is ‘still open for business’ along with a list of names of all the outlets inside.
“They are also going to install fairy lighting inside while work takes place, in a bid to attract shoppers to come inside.
“We have had several meetings about the work with Sefton Council and with Southport MP Damien Moore which have been very useful.
“We hope to continue that dialogue as good communication is very important to us.
JSM is carrying out work to transform the former BHS store in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Damien Moore was very helpful. He has taken away six or seven points raised by the traders that he is going to address.
“We have a meeting next week with officers from four or five different Sefton Council departments which we are really looking forward to, we hope they can answer lots of questions for us.”
John is really looking forward to seeing Cambridge Arcade being transformed after years of pleas by the traders.
He said: “After years of campaigning, it is fantastic to feel that we have got somewhere. We are all so pleased to see work being carried out.
“The whole canopy of the arcade is going to be replaced with clear glass, instead of the wired glass that we have at the moment. It is going to look so much better.
“It will be good to see all the broken panes replaced and better drainage put in. There will be no more flooding whenever we get heavy rain.
Work is taking place to repair and restore Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“All the steelwork is going to be cleaned. Masonry will be repaired. Painting work will be redone.
“Pigeons have become a real nuisance inside the arcade, that is something that contractors are going to help us resolve.
“We had one customer who came into the arcade the other day, pushing himself along in a wheelchair. He said his hands were covered in bird muck because of all the mess from the pigeons. That is just unacceptable for people with disabilities, for parents and guardians pushing prams, for people walking through. It is an issue that really needs to be addressed.
“All the Victorian lighting that is broken is going to be replaced.
“The architects and the contractors have been brilliant. They have assured us that the work will aim to maintain and improve the Victorian heritage of the arcade as faithfully as possible.
“We are really looking forward to seeing what the arcade looks like when it is finished.”
Work is taking place to repair and restore Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The traders are also eager to see work taking place to transform the former BHS department store which runs alongside one side of Cambridge Arcade.
The historic building has become severely dilapidated since it closed in 2016, with unsightly fencing currently installed alongside it for safety reasons.
John said: “We are looking forward to JSM carrying out the work at the former BHS building.
“It is going to make such a massive difference when that takes place! Their plans sound really positive.
“Hopefully we can find out what their schedule is going to be and when work will be happening.
“We have heard that Phase One of the work there is due to be completed by March 2024.
“It would be great to see them working well in conjunction with the work that Sefton Council and its partners are carrying out inside the arcade.
“Things are looking positive, and we hope that local people continue to support all our local businesses while the work is taking place.”
Cambridge Arcade is a popular thoroughfare which links two of Southport’s busiest high streets – Lord Street and Chapel Street.
Thousands of people pass through it each year, with Cambridge Arcade and Cambridge Walks full of thriving local, independent businesses.
Starting in Spring of 2023 significant repairs will be carried out to the Lord Street end of the canopy roof in a scheme costing £400,000.
Speaking earlier this year, Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, Regulation and Compliance, said: “Cambridge Arcade is a fantastic asset in the heart of Southport town centre but, like many well-used historic locations, it is in need of some refurbishments.
“The arcade’s canopy is the focus of our initial attention, and we will be undertaking significant works to address issues such as leaks and damaged glazing.”
Bernard Taylor Partnership Architects has been appointed by Sefton Council to work on the scheme and staff members have met with Cambridge Arcade’s tenants.
Further business engagement sessions will be held as the project progresses and Sefton Council will continue to work with tenants and other interested parties throughout the development process.
Quadriga Contracts workers are currently on site carrying out the work.
Writing on LinkedIn, Quadriga Contracts posted: “We’re on site at Southport Town Hall and Cambridge Arcade!
“The Grade II Listed building was constructed between 1852-1853 and designed by Thomas Withnell in Palladian style with its characteristic symmetry and clear influence from Ancient Greek and Roman orders.
“Works will include masonry cleaning and repairs, roof replacement, timber restoration, paint removal using the Peelaway system, decoration and glazing replacement.
“We’re delighted to be working with BTP Architects to restore this iconic building.”
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