Page 19 - Market Times February 2022
P. 19

 ’s local
a comeback
 times over that period,” Gary said.
The punters were put off by the disruption and as time went on more and more traders
looked for other markets to trade on. Melton Mowbray was a favourite choice. The traders who stayed ended up lining
the street of Westgate, which leads into Market Place, and when the time eventually came to return to Market Place, no one wanted to relocate.
“The traders felt that they had settled in Westgate where there are quite a few shops and eating places. The market helps the shops and the shops help the market,” he said.
“There isn’t much to bring people to
Market Place — just a couple of night- clubs which is no help during the day.” So they stayed put and the market has
gradually built back up. Gary said the council had worked impeccably with the traders. Rents were halved during the tough times and Gary said it took a lot of hard work but gradually trader confidence grew and the market flourished again.
The introduction of bright, green and white canopies in 2019 has given the market a smart, welcoming look, and ironically the pandemic has helped.
The market kept going with essential traders during the lockdowns and Gary noticed new shoppers turning up.
“We set up the stalls early and we noticed people arriving at 6.30 in the morning,” Gary said. “We put in force all the Covid measures and people seemed to feel safer shopping outside. When we asked people why they had arrived so early they said they wanted to get their shopping done before more people were about.”
Also, people whose shops and businesses were affected by the pandemic have ex- pressed an interest in moving on to the market.
“They perhaps looked at their overheads and realised they could benefit from good footfall on a street market and trade all day for just £25,” he said.
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