This may sound like a wild suggestion but the car park in the market square drives me mad with people queuing to get in when there are clearly no spaces. And meanwhile the market itself is in a small space at the back of a building where no one can find it - not very good advertising.
Why not have the council swap the 2 around. The market will then be a focal point to be proud of right in the heart of the centre for all to see and use!?!?!
That sounds like a good idea to me - putting as it would the market at the true centre of this 'historic' market town. But is the car-park in front of the swimming baths really big enough? Wouldn't you also need to lose the bus bays? Ballot the market traders themselves and see what they think? I recently picked up a leaflet from my local newsagent called Support Your Local Businesses - the stated aim of which is to "introduce and remind local communities of the services that are available ... on their door step." Initiatives like this are welcome and serve to remind people that it is possible to shop without using the car. Good for you, your wallet and your local community.
All this talk about moving the Market to the car park in the square. Can nobody remember that is where the original market was.
I stood in the old market square and that is why they still call it "The Market Place" The councilers of that time could not rest until they had got it out of sight so it was set up on the old Waver Green. That was about 1968 and Whithams Joiners were paid to build the wooden stalls, and after nearly forty years they are still going strong. Apart from a few new pieces of wood being nailed on here and there.
What will happen in the next few years? We do not know.
