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www.market-trader.co.uk OCTOBER 25 - NOVEMBER 7, 2019 No. 4964 70p
INSIDE... Page 3
Steaming to festive market in Bath
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Council backs market report Wisbech market
An independent report on a Cambridgeshire town’s market has been welcomed by the local council there, which says plans are already largely in place to address many of the issues raised. The report on Wisbech’s
Market Place was prepared by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NAMBA), who visited the town in August following a request from Helen Keppell, who at the time was the town council’s operations and assets manager. NABMA’s free survey looked closely at the way the market operates, and the report of their findings is now set to be discussed by the town council. However, chairman of the
town’s markets committee, Cllr Andrew Lynn, has said he is confident the authority is already on top of most of the points raised. He told local media that
plans already drawn up to improve the Market Place, including pedestrianisation from 7am to 4pm daily, new planters, a children’s play area and a water feature, will address some of the report’s more negative comments. He also maintained that the report is largely positive,
ISSN 2057–6781
highlighting the market’s setting and praising the provision of affordable parking. The report said: “Of note
are the car parking charges in the town, with an excellent provision of free short-term parking and extremely reasonable charges for lengthier stays. Such a stance is to be applauded given the pressures on local authorities and the natural propensity to view parking as a steady and available source of revenue. “Low or free parking where appropriate is a major retail driver, a fact long understood by supermarkets and out of town retail developments. Eas e of a c c e s s and parking are likely to remain significant.” However, while allowing
that the market “adds colour and a dynamic to the town”, the report was critical of the fact that it currently runs seven days a week. “The traditional market
days are Thursday and Saturday,” the report said, “which still appear to be strong market days as does, not unsurprisingly, Friday. The same cannot be said for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and having just two regular traders on a Sunday is of little value. “The value of these days
as traditional market days must as a result be open to conjecture.” According to the report, cutting the days would “help
increase the significance of the remaining market days and concentrate market shopper expenditure to the benefit of traders on the remaining trading days.” The report also questioned
the wisdom of having a car boot element to the town’s Thursday market, as figures had shown Thursday to be the second most popular market day. It suggests a better option
would be to try and build up the market itself, and if a second car boot or bric- a-brac offering is required, this should take place on a former market day of Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and should be promoted and operated in an organised way.
The repor t urges the council to monitor feedback from traders, retailers and the pubic to “arrive at a fuller understanding” of the effect of reducing the number of market days. According to Cllr Lynn
these issues had all been discussed previously by the markets committee, though there had never been full agreement on what changes to make to the market days. “The car boots do bring
in some income and more importantly footfall to the town,” he told local media. He also pointed out that the council’s current plans, which are set to go out for public consultation shortly, will also address other issues raised in
the report, including criticisms over the parking of vans on the Market Place. The need for a more planned approach to stall locations is also on the agenda, which is particularly relevant on quieter trading days when the stalls are spread out, and the suggestion is that traders should be closer together to improve the market’s overall appearance. With regard to the road closure the report said it was to be “applauded” given its location at the side of the market. “Pedestrian zones are a major benefit in enticing custom and providing a feel- good factor to shopping.” But it added: “I t is
understood that the road closure is not on each market day. This is a real negative as the customers to the town clearly appreciated the benefit of the pedestrian zone, and only having a road closure on certain market days is confusing to all and can be a hazard if customers believe an area to be traffic free.” In response Cllr Lynn said
this would be addressed by the proposed pedestrianisation of the Market Place between 7am and 4pm, with access up to 10am for deliveries. He added that traders will also be encouraged to park their vans centrally to give the market a tidier appearance. Other concerns such as
the poor state of electrical boxes and the removal of stalls before 2pm will also be
addressed by the planned improvements. Cllr Lynn concluded: “Overall the report is positive and it will help drive our plans to improve the Market Place. I would urge everyone interested to take part in the public consultation when it is launched, so they can have their say.”
Mansfield gets set for the Big Switch On
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Last minute reprieve for Rochdale
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