The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Stallholders at Holbeach Market claim they have never had it so good following its trial relocation.
Traders say the market has doubled in size and business is booming in Boston Road car park because it’s a safer environment and customers are enjoying a better shopping experience.
However, several High Street shops say footfall has noticeably declined on Thursdays and Saturdays since the market left in January to begin the trial move brought about by South Holland District Council.
Toto Shoes proprietor Dave Hudson says his business is one of a small handful facing an uncertain future due to the downturn.
Market trader Shelly Andrew, of SJA Produce, says she has sympathy with the shops but the number of shoppers in High Street was already pretty sparse.
She said: “We welcome the shop traders to come to the market and have a stall.
“I’d say to them ‘shut your shop on those days, re-direct people to the market and tell them on the stall that it’s an example of what you have in the shop’. All they need is a 3m x 3m gazebo.”
Shelly is into her third year trading on the market and the recent increase in trade has led to having to take on another member of staff.
“It’s a safer site and customers can stand back and see the stall, which they weren’t able to do before because it was a narrow walkway,” she said.
“People are more relaxed in their shopping, we can talk to them because we’re not shouting over traffic noise and there’s less pollution from passing vehicles.”
Shelly’s satisfaction and optimism is shared by fellow stallholder Richard Brooks, of Elite Plants.
He said: “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of customers who have never used the market before.
“The High Street has been in decline for years. There have a lot of shops closing down and a couple of banks too. The Co-op is expanding and taking in the Post Office and an existing pharmacy, so that will be two further buildings left empty.
“We had been ready to find another market to go to. For us, it was either move the market or lose it.”
There are now about ten various stalls on the market and, in what could be seen as a significant sign, the market traders declined a council offer to use High Street temporarily when the fair was on Boston Road car park recently.
District council portfolio holder for place, Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, told The Voice last month that the long-term viability and sustainability of the market was the council’s priority and the trial location “appears to be meeting our aspirations”.
A final decision will be made in the autumn.
