Plans to move the Alderley Edge Farmer's Market into the village centre, which we reported a couple of weeks ago, have hit a snag.
Christine Munro, who set up the Alderley Edge Farmer's Market nearly 14 years ago, was hoping to move the monthly event into the centre of the village, so the stalls were located on the side roads of Chapel Street and Brown Street.
However, she explained at this week's Parish Council that she had spoken with Diane Smith, Town Centre Manager, and apparently Cheshire East Council (CEC) were unable to grant a license to her for the market to move into the village centre, from its current location at the Festival Hall. Instead of giving a licence for the whole market, Christine was told they would have to give individual licences to each stallholder which would be very complicated.
Christine told parish councillors "I have asked if I can move the market into the park for April. The market is dying, we have had an awful battering with the Treacle Market opening and the Artisan Market in Wilmslow in more recent months.
"I charge stallholders £15 for a stall but they can only do that for so long. The market is going to die unless I do something to keep it going so I thought I would just try it for April."
If her plans go ahead for the first farmer's market to be held in the park, Christine is planning something special, such as bringing in a climbing wall and a few rides to make it "a farmer's market with a little something else".
Christine explained "I just want to try and see if it works. When I thought I'd like to be in the village I approached those traders I thought would be most affected, like Wienholts and the Alderley Village Butchers, and they were very supportive."
Cllr Mary Maczkowiak said "I think the park is a great idea and I suggest we support Christine because she is a winner and she has proven it."
Other councillors did raise concerns about whether holding the farmer's market in the park would be appropriate, including Cllr Mike Williamson who said "I'm a little bit concerned about how you'd manage it in the park but you are doing the May Fair so you tell me."
Cllr Frank Keegan added "There isn't any parking and I have concerns about taking the park out of use on a regular basis."
Given there was a division of opinion parish councillors decided to wait and hear what CEC have to say about the proposal before deciding whether or not they should support Christine Munro's plans to hold the April Alderley Edge Farmer's Market in the park.
Speaking after the meeting Christine told me "Our Farmers Market is not 'only the farmer's market' as one of our councillors said at Christmas time when the market came into the village for the day. It brings the community together, customers meet and chat in the hall over a cup of coffee, and our producers and farmers offer products you can't find in any supermarket, at reasonable prices, made with care, and with no additives or preservatives. And they are there to offer tips and advice on how to prepare and serve the products they sell. You don't find this in a supermarket where food has travelled miles to get on the shelf.
"I think what the councillors and the community need to think about is do we want to lose the market which has been going for almost 14 years now? It will be a really sad day for me if the market has to close.
"I hope the Council will support me. I think they only have to look at the footfall in the village to see that something needs to be done to bring more people in who will support our local traders."
Would you like to see the Alderley Edge Farmer's Market move to the park? Do you think a relocation from the festival hall will attract more customers. Please share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
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must say yes the institute needed work on it but what a pity we've lost the facility in the heart of the village it would have been ideal as a farmers market venue .