New plans for town’s market

The council is now offering a number of financial incentives to help new and existing traders.

New traders who stand on the market for four months or more will receive one week’s free rent at the end of each month for four months, and traders with more than three stalls will receive 25 per cent off the fourth and subsequent stalls.

Traders can also benefit from a new referral scheme, which offers them three days of free trading for every new stallholder they introduce who stands for a minimum of four months.

The council also plans to use some of its economic stimulus fund to revitalise the appearance of the market, which could include replacing the existing stalls with new, more manoeuvrable units and improvements to the food court seating area.

A decision about the layout and number of days that the market operates is expected to be taken later in the year once the results of the recent consultation on the market have been analysed.