Wilmslow Town Council has confirmed that discussions are still ongoing regarding the future of Wilmslow Artisan Market following a request from a Wilmslow resident to return the Artisan Market to a Saturday.
Dr Deborah Slade wrote to the Council following her visit to this month's market saying "I went to the market in Wilmslow on Sunday and was saddened to see the state of it. I go every month even though it is a lot more inconvenient now that it is on a Sunday. There were significantly less stalls and many fewer people there.
"When the market was on a Saturday there was a real buzz about the town. This was not there at all on Sunday. I believe the day was changed due to protests from shop owners saying that it took away their trade. There was also an argument to say that opening on Sunday would give them an extra day's trading. There were no shops open on Sunday.
"The market is slowly dying, diminishing every month and soon it will be gone unless something is done. It has been on a Sunday for 6 months now and it is much less successful in every way. People like me do not wish to shop on a Sunday. I have other things to do such as spending time with my family. The day needs to be changed back to Saturday."
Dr Slade requested that the market be added to the next agenda for the Town Council meeting, adding "It is your responsibility to see that the market remains strong and viable. It is also your responsibility to represent the residents of Wilmslow, not just the shop owners. I believe that the majority of people in Wilmslow would like to see the market return to Saturday."
Cllr Martin Watkins, Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, referred to the correspondence during the Town Council meeting on Monday, 21st July, although he did not include a specific agenda item on the Artisan Market "as we currently have neither news to report nor the authority to make a binding decision".
Cllr Watkins responded on behalf of his colleagues, saying "Your email highlights the challenges faced by the Artisan Market since it moved to a Sunday in November 2013 and the views expressed by many residents in recent months. The reduction in visitor numbers and recent press coverage has led to a large numbers of residents making contact with the Town Council over the past few weeks regarding the future of the Market.
"The communications received have in the main favoured a return to a Saturday market. However this has by no means been the unanimous view.
"Whilst the Town Council has been involved in facilitating discussions and quantifying the extent of trader opinion following disputes in the town, its involvement was only at the request of market organisers, local established businesses and Cheshire East Council. Wilmslow Town Council has never had any responsibility for the operation of the Artisan Market.
"The Artisan Market is a private market (and a private business) run with the permission of Cheshire East Council. At its heart, the current controversy stems from a fundamental disagreement from one type of business with another. It is the responsibility of those businesses to resolve the matter themselves.
"In response to the bad feeling that was being generated between town centre business owners and the market, the Town Council commissioned a survey of town businesses which showed that those businesses which held a view over the timing of the market were, in the majority, favouring Sunday. The information gathered was passed to Cheshire East Council and the market organisers as a piece of professional, independent, quantifiable evidence to aid the decision making process. Note please that this was a survey of the businesses involved and not a survey of public opinion which was, in any event, not difficult to gauge."
Cllr Watkins added "You highlight in your email the responsibility of the Town Council to represent the citizens of Wilmslow not just the shop holders. However the occupancy of town centre shops and the health of the permanent retailer economy has implications for us all as indicated by the plethora of comments made online each time a local business closes its doors. To ignore the concerns of businesses when they indicate that the market is hurting them would be irresponsible and I offer no apology that the Town Council helped to quantify this opinion. Moreover, since the inception of the Artisan Market, Wilmslow Town Council has voiced its support on many occasions which demonstrates an even-handed approach.
"Over recent weeks representatives of the Town Council have continued to participate in meetings with Cheshire East Council and interested parties in order to try and encourage the business community towards a workable and long term compromise which meets the aspirations of all of our communities, residents included. By definition, compromise means that not all will be happy by the outcome. A certain amount of progress has been made and further meetings are planned."
Wilmslow Artisan Market was launched three years ago to bring diversity and ambiance to Wilmslow, to offer something a bit different to what can be found on other high streets and support local businesses. However a large number of retailers called for the market to be switched to a Sunday as it was having a detrimental effect on sales on their busiest day of the week.
As a result, Wilmslow Town Council commissioned an independent research company to assess the impact of the Wilmslow Artisan Market and, having consider the results, it was decided that future Artisan Markets in Wilmslow will be held on a Sunday. The first Sunday Artisan Market was held in November 2013.
Denise Valente, organiser of the Wilmslow Artisan Markets said "There have been a series of regular meetings with Wilmslow Town Council and Cheshire East Council over the last few months - all trying to come up with a solution to 'save' the market and provide a solution that will benefit the majority, both shop keepers and visitors. Because the event impacts on such a huge cross section of people it is not an easy compromise to find and that is why it has taken so long. Neither I, nor the WTC or CEC want to make any changes that will be detrimental and so lots of components need to be considered.
"When the market was moved to a Sunday in November of last year I had hoped that it would provide a platform for the retail environment to capitalise on the increased footfall that it would bring to an otherwise quiet trading day in Wilmslow. I hoped that retail would open and this in itself would provide our visitors and the shops with a thriving 7th trading day. With shops open as well as our event, shopping patterns may have adapted to Sunday and all would have been good.
"The reality has been that very few additional shops have opened on the Sunday and those that did have found that the additional costs associated with this have not been supported by additional takings as the number of visitors has been far lower than what we experienced on a Saturday, and so many have taken the decision not to open anymore.
"This leaves us in a difficult position as the event is now the only 'main' draw and on its own it has not been able to change sufficient peoples habits. Sunday in Wilmslow is historically a time for families, sporting clubs, relaxing, Sunday roast, church etc, most shopping has been done. We are finding many regular visitors cannot make the market on a Sunday due to poor bus services or other commitments. Our visitors on a Saturday used to combine the shops/restaurants and the market as a day out, browsing the market and picking up their essentials from the retailers. Now if they need something from a high street store on a Sunday they have to make the journey elsewhere at the expense of missing the market."
Denise added "The concept for this event was to enhance what our town had to offer, providing something that brought people back into the town who previously shopped elsewhere. It was to add vibrancy and buzz and bring back the times when people bumped into friends on the street and could meet the people who lovingly produced or sourced the goods they sold.
"I feel very strongly that the Artisan Market is a huge asset to Wilmslow and hope that it continues to thrive moving forward."
What's your views on Wilmslow Artisan Market? Let us know via the comment box below whether you would like to see the Wilmslow Artisan Market continue and, if so, whether you would like it to be held on a Saturday or Sunday in future.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Move it back to Saturday. End of.
I am trying to think what shops would see their trade drop because of the market and I am failing to think of one. Numerous bars and cafes must see increased trade as people will always want refreshments.
The clothing shops must benefit with extra trade.
Could someone correct me and tell me which shops see trade drop.
Saturday is always the busiest day to shop. Surely the evidence that Sunday is the wrong choice for this market is actually every Sunday that its open.