THE closure of Market Street in Bandon next week will mark the final phase in the transformation of the town’s streetscapes heralding a bright new future for the town.

Market Street will be closed for a month from next Monday February 16th until Monday March 16th to facilitate a road reconstruction.

A raised pedestrian table crossing will also be installed at the church steps with pedestrian access maintained throughout the closure.

Hilary O’Farrell of O’Farrell’s Newsagent on South Main Street and spokesperson for Bandon Business Association (BBA) said they have been lucky to get this much-needed investment in the town with Market Street being the final piece of the jigsaw.

‘It took years to get it started and it’s taken us years to go through it but throughout it all the eyes were on the finish line. We have to remember that the town needed this and Bandon lacked investment for many years so we are nearly there now,’ said Hilary.

‘Collectively as a town it’s now time to just look forward and be positive in what we can achieve. We want to attract new businesses into Bandon and for the town to survive people need to come in, shop in the town and create a vibrant, bustling town centre again. It’s all about spending money in the town which in turn will attract new businesses in.’

Sinéad Seaman of Hair by Sinéad, also on South Main Street, said the closure of Market Street has to be done and traders are embracing it.

‘We are looking forward to the completion of works and we welcome all new businesses and the town will come back,’ she said,

Just last weekend, The Pie Guys opened their new premises on South Main Street to much fanfare while a council-backed meeting heard that the town now needs to promote itself to boost tourism and attract new businesses.

New draft parking bye-laws are also being proposed for four local authority car parks to increase the number of parking opportunities for shoppers.

The council is also piloting the introduction of 24 new long-stay parking spaces at Bandon GAA Club, which they saw will free up spaces in the retail areas.

The works on Market Street are expected to be concluded in advance of St Patrick’s bank holiday weekend.

The first phase of Bandon TPREP began in 2022 with a street upgrade and enhancement works from St Peter’s Church at Ballymodan Place to the Market Street junction with street furniture, tree planting and bicycle parking.

This was followed by enhancement works at Bridge Lane and Bridge Street, while South Main Street’s upgrade was completed last summer.