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Water company repairs 'scar' in £12.5m town square

Lewis Adams
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Carroll Weston/BBC A long, black asphalt strip strip runs over some new-looking brick paving. The paving is in front of an old, stone building with a black door.Carroll Weston/BBC
Conservative councillor Daniel Lister said the asphalt was "blighting our new square"

A newly refurbished town square has been brought back up to scratch after a council said it was left "scarred" during water works.

Anglian Water was accused of botching Market Square in Northampton four months after a £12.5m make-over was completed.

However, it said replacing fresh paving with asphalt was only ever intended as a "temporary solution".

West Northamptonshire Council criticised the firm, but later said on X the area had been "neatly restored".

Carroll Weston/BBC Wood-coloured market stall with brown shutter and the Northampton market logo. Two people stand at an adjacent stall. There are new brown and grey paving stones on the ground.Carroll Weston/BBC
Stallholders will begin trading from their new permanent stalls in September

The revitalised Market Square welcomed back customers in September after an 18-month project.

During that time, new paving, bespoke fixed stalls, lighting, seating and trees were all installed, while traders were moved to Commercial Street.

The surface was damaged by Anglian Water during work to create a "new water connection" at a town centre business.

Speaking previously, Conservative councillor Daniel Lister said: "We don't want this street scar blighting our new square."

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