Dawley Market returns to the High Street

Dawley Market was once a feature of the town centre before being confined to a car park.

But it made its return to the high street after a campaign by residents, councillors and Telford MP David Wright.

The move was made possible by an experimental change to the town's traffic flow, which has seen High Street and Burton Street pedestrianised between 8am and 4pm on Fridays to allow the market to take place. More than 1,000 shoppers and traders signed a petition backing the market's return.

Resident Alice Baugh said: "It's fantastic to have the market back in the street. The cost to the traders when it was in the car park was lethal."

Shopper Les Tait added: "It's the best thing that's happened to Dawley for a long time. We will be here every week. I hope this will bring the High Street back to life."

Ron Munt, who was shopping with Mr Tait, added: "I think it will take some time to encourage people to start using it again, but I think David Wright has done a great job to bring it back."

Lorraine and William Reynolds visited especially to look at the stalls on offer.

Mrs Reynolds said: "It seems alright, there's a lot more people here than before."

Mr Reynolds added: "There's a lot more space than when it was crammed on the car park. Hopefully there will be even more people and it will start to come back.

"When the market was here before there were lots of people that used to come so hopefully it will go back to that."

All shoppers at the market were given a fabric tote bag to take with them round the stalls and fill up with their shopping.

Jean Gamble, who looking at some of the bread on offer, said: "It's good because you can walk down, look at what you want to look at, pick it up and come back."

Traders, who had come from all over Shropshire to take part in the market said they were glad to see its return.

Steve Roberts on the Setting the Mood stall, who also has a stall at the Bridgnorth Market, said: "I was given the opportunity to come here by Telford & Wrekin Council and I gladly accepted.

"I think the street has got character and I think it's going to come back, I will be here every Friday."

Sue Smith, who was helping her daughter Nicki Lowe run her Field House Kitchen stall offering homemade bread and cakes, said: "We went to T Party in Telford Town Park a few weeks ago and quite a few people said come to Dawley, we need the support.

"People have been saying it is a shame it went from the High Street so it's nice to see it back. We have had a brilliant response."

Bridget Fleming has been running a fruit and veg stall at Dawley Market for 20 years and said: "It had gone down so low and got so quiet, it can only get better. Time will tell.

"Everything has been fine, everybody's happy it is just a shame about the weather."

David Wright MP said: "I am pleased we have got the market back on a Friday. We need to build it up now. We have managed to move most stalls from the car park and there were lots of new stalls as well. It's crucial now that people support the market."

Dawley Town Council has agreed to help fund the first 10 markets in order to get the scheme going in its new home.

Councillor Shaun Davies, chairman of Great Dawley Parish Council, said: "It has been brilliant, it is a wet day but we've had a good turn out.