Lack of support puts Bishop's Castle market in peril
The new mayor of a Shropshire town has urged people to support its historic market – or risk losing it altogether.
Just three traders have been recently setting up their stalls at the market in Bishop's Castle – but on Friday it did not open at all because even they failed to turn up.
Karen Bavastock, who took over the chains of office from departing mayor Keith Pinches last week, said it was important that shoppers supported the market in the town and also issued a call for more traders to come forward.
The weekly Friday market was held in the town hall until it closed last month for work to start on a near £1 million revamp.
Only one of the traders – Nicky Simpson – opted to stay with the town council and move to the temporary site at the auction yard.
The majority split off and set up a new market a couple of miles outside the town at Lydham, and last week reported they were going from strength to strength.
Mrs Bavastock insisted she bore no ill-feeling to the rebel traders – but called for support to ensure the historic market remained in the town.
She said: "Unfortunately the market isn't being very well supported at the moment.
"We had a blip on Friday. Nicky could not make it as she was on holiday and for whatever reason the other two traders did not turn up either, so the market was not open.
"We are hoping that normal service will be resumed this week but the message to people has to be clear – use it or risk losing it.
"It is our market town and we have the right to run a market in the town.
"For people that don't actually drive it is very important to them, and we are doing everything we can to try and keep it going.
"We have had very positive feedback from local people who are very pleased that the market has been retained in the town.
"But if the traders on there are not making any money then they will end up going somewhere else."
The market currently sells fruit and veg, eggs and bread, top quality cheeses, chocolate brownies, pies, quiches, cakes and scotch eggs.
Any traders who can offer anything different and are interested in setting up at the town market are urged to call town clerk Diane Malley on (01588) 638141.
