Market Drayton pub pledge to help gingerbread man

Staff at Market Drayton's Gingerbread Man pub have offered to maintain the town's 12 foot brick man after town councillors decided it had become an eyesore and needed removing.

Market Drayton Town Council has been informed of the offer and members are due to discuss it.

The figure, which lies near the island on the A53 bypass near the town, was once surrounded by flowers and lovingly tended during the summer months.

But the Shropshire Star revealed that the town council had decided it was too difficult to maintain and wanted to rip it up.

Hayley Bolton-Gwilt, team leader at the Gingerbread Man pub, said she was very surprised about the town's council's decision to remove it.

"The roundabout is maintained so for what would take about two minutes more, you would have thought it could be maintained as well. That's what we pay council tax for," she said.

"We don't want the gingerbread man dismantled as it's a part of Market Drayton. It would be sad to see it go.

"I spoke to my boss about maintaining it and he said go for it.

"It would probably be myself and a couple of volunteers that do the work and we won't be asking for anything to help us from the town council."

Mark Whittle, town councillor and chairman of the town's chamber of trade and commerce, has welcomed the proposal put forward by staff at the Gingerbread Man pub.

"It wouldn't cost the town council anything and it would be good for the business. It's a win-win situation," he said.

"Although they haven't asked for anything to maintain it I believe we should give them something towards it.

"I have been in talks with Hayley and have contacted the council clerk.

"Market Drayton isn't famous for much, but it does have links to gingerbread and there is only one place now where you can still get it in the town."

While Market Drayton's connections with the history of gingerbread have been debated over the years, many people said they would be sad to see the figure go.

Mr Whittle said he found it hard to believe other councillors had voted to rip up part of the town's unique identity.

Councillor Roy Aldcroft, mayor of Market Drayton, said replacing the gingerbread structure altogether was a possibility.

"Discussions are still taking place with a view to replacing the gingerbread man with something more suitable and striking," he said.

"In terms of the offer from the Gingerbread Man pub, part of the discussions are about the undertaking of long-term care of the gingerbread man structure. It would have to come from the brewery itself rather than the current manager of the pub.

"What would happen if he left? What would we do then?"

The town's links to gingerbread are thought to date back hundreds of years – the first recorded mention of it being made in the town was 1793.

Now, just one company, Image On Food, still makes the sweet treat in the town.

The brick picture was created by the town's in bloom committee about 15 years ago.

But Councillor Roger Hughes said the figure had been too difficult to maintain and had become unattractive.

He said: "It has always been difficult to maintain.

"People need to drive along the bypass and see that you can barely see it. I don't think most people realise it is even there.

"We have always had problems planting flowers and getting things to grow there.

"The decision was made at a committee meeting and we are going to replace it with something.

"If anyone has ideas they are of course able to contact the town council."

Clive of India was born near the town and is said to have brought back the ginger spice to the town's bakers giving each bakery the chance to develop its own secret recipe.

The first record of gingerbread being made in the area was back in 1793, when Roland Lateward began a bakery at the back of his cottage in Shropshire Street.

In 1817 another bakery began in the corner of High Street and Church Street, which then became known as Billington's Gingerbread.

And while Billington's still makes the biscuit, it moved away from the town to Yorkshire and instead sells the product back to shops in the area.

Over the years a number of companies have either moved away, closed, or branched into something else leaving just one remaining gingerbread baker – Image on Food.