Oswestry council targets ways to boost market trade

But they have announced a series of events on the market to run throughout the year to boost trade and will ask councillors on Wednesday whether they back plans for a specially organised Christmas market this year as a new festive feature.

Oswestry Town Council markets manager David Clough says in a report to councillors: "Unfortunately the weather over the Christmas period was very damaging to trade, particularly the outdoor market.

"The high winds and rain badly affected what is potentially a busy time."

Mr Clough said many markets in the area were visited in January in an attempt to attract new outdoor traders to Oswestry's market. He said: "There has already been some visits from new traders, hopefully they were supported enough to encourage them to revisit."

Mr Clough said a host of events have been lined up to attract shoppers to the market including an Easter fun day, an antique fair and a continental market.

He added he had been in touch with Shrewsbury-based Asterley Events about staging a new Christmas market in Oswestry, possibly in Cross Street and Bailey Street. Mr Clough said: "They have been operating a Christmas Market in Wrexham for the past couple of years which has proven successful. It is unfortunate that once Christmas Live and the parade are over in the first week in December, there are no other activities to help attract shoppers into the town."

Councillors will discuss whether to stage a Christmas market when the markets and car parks committee meets on Wednesday at the Guildhall from 7pm.