Marlborough’s popular Communities Market is at risk because Wiltshire Council is demanding ‘rent’ for the parking spaces the market occupies – even though it doesn’t charge for parking on Sundays, when the monthly event is held.
The council wants market owners who operate on council land – which includes public highways – to pay £25 for markets of up to five stalls, £50 for five to ten stalls, and £75 for more than 10 stalls.
The market attracts around 17 or 18 local producers every month, selling artisan food and crafts.
The move seems to be little more than a revenue-generating exercise. In a letter to organisers, Peter White, enforcement manager at Wiltshire Council, wrote: “The Council trusts that you are aware of the reduction in the government funding for Wiltshire Council and our need to make further savings.
“Resulting from this the council wishes to advise that from 01 April 2015 Marlborough Community Market will be levied a charge for trading on Wiltshire Council land.”
Renting a stall costs £25, but there is a £10 per month discount for new stallholders every month for three months, and many stallholders – start-up businesses under a year old – enjoy a significant discount under the Tables for a Tenner scheme.
The market is run by Ellie Gill of social enterprise Plain Fresh Ltd on behalf of Transition Marlborough.
Richard Pitts, chairman of Transition Marlborough and a founding member and director of the Communities Market, said: “This news has come as a bombshell, that could completely destroy this embryonic enterprise.”
”The market had been really successful in helping producers to launch their businesses.
“Since we launched, 110 traders have worked on the market – including 30 start-ups under the Table for a Tenner scheme – and free or subsidised stalls have been given to charities and local groups.
“Some traders have gone on to open shops. The market has great economic benefits for the town and its residents, and should be encouraged as such.
“We don’t even know what the fee is for. The council doesn’t lose any car parking revenue, as we occupy spaces on a Sunday. There’s not even any refuge collection to be done, as our stallholders clean up after themselves.
“This seems to have been done without any public consultation, or reference to the Area Board, which has been supportive of the initiative. Exactly what services will Wiltshire Council provide for these exceptionally expensive rates?”
Another (now former) director, town and county councillor Nick Fogg, has resigned from the market’s board so that he can fight the council’s decision.
Meanwhile, market days are being moved from the first Sunday to the last Sunday in the month, to avoid clashes with larger markets in Salisbury and Frome, which were tempting stallholders away from the Marlborough event.
The move has proved popular with producers, and already the market has increased the number of bookings to 20 for the next market, which will be held on March 29.
Anyone who wants to make a representation to Wiltshire Council about the new fees being imposed on the Communities Market can email enforcement manager Peter White at peter.white@wiltshire.gov.uk
One final view of the solar eclipse…
