Two-month winter closure for town market a possibility-holsworthy news -Zoe Uglow Reporter (Holsworthy Post)

THE town council wants to make it clear they will not be closing Holsworthy’s weekly market indefinitely, but is considering closure during January and February as poor weather conditions in the past have reduced turnout and profits.

The town council met for a full town council meeting on Wednesday, October 4, to discuss the possibility of closing the market during two months only. In previous years it has heard many complaints from traders about the poor weather conditions at the start of the year drastically affecting trade. The council has decided it is time to look into possible measures to ease loses and ensure the Wednesday market can survive into the future — however some traders have expressed their opposition to proposals for a two month closure.

Mayor Jon Hutchings reiterated the point that the council is not planning to close the market for good, he said: “I want to assure locals and traders that we are not closing the market. No decision will be made tonight but we will take any suggestions to a market committee and then back to a full council meeting again.”

Speaking on the issues that have been raised to him by market traders and stall holders, Cllr Hutchings said: “We have had issues with the wind in the past, with traders saying the market in the weeks between Christmas and new year and the one after have been terrible and a waste of time.

“We have had complaints that the tents have been flapping and blowing around in the heavy winds and that this has become quite dangerous. However, now that we have said we will close it they are moaning.”

Holsworthy town clerk Vanessa Saunders, who is also the council’s responsible financial officer, said: “We do make a loss. Because of the bad weather last year they did miss a few weeks of the market anyway.”

Ms Saunders suggested that if they did close the market during January and February it would ‘give us time to clean up’ as many of the complaints the council have received regard the dirty or poor state of the markets tents and signage.-      Good morning Mark,
I am a reporter for the Holsworthy Post. I saw your most recent blog post, posted on the Holsworthy Moan and Groan page, and wondered if you would be able to credit me and the Holsworthy Post please as I wrote the article! I hope that is ok, Kindest regards, Zoe Uglow Reporter (Holsworthy Post)                                              read more