Tuesday is Market Day! But why not on Saturday as well?

[PhilV]

Congratulations on the Tuesday Market! A town the size of ours should have it's own Market.

One problem - Tuesday is not the best day for the many people who live in Melksham but work elsewhere. Even though I work in Bowerhill my one hour lunch break is barely long enough to make it worth nipping into Melksham for the Market (or indeed any other shopping).

I can vouch that the other people I work with - that I have asked -  are not prepared to drive/cycle/walk/bus into town on a Tuesday during their hours lunch break to attend the Market.

Why can we not have a Market on a Saturday  - as well as or instead of the Tuesday. It would make it much more accessible to those of us in a full time job!

regards

Phil Vossler

[grahame]

Phil, yes, wouldn't it be fabulous to have it on a Saturday too!

I've had a chat with some of the traders and the operator of the market, and the reason that it's a Tuesday is that they go all arouind the various towns - "If it's Friday it must be Corsham" stuff ... and I'm pretty sure that the prime day of Saturday is spoken for by many traders. 

There is also the little matter of the Assembly Hall being pretty heavily booked on various Saturdays (I know - I have tried to arrange something!).

Having said that ... why not, but perhaps something that's much more Melksham based - for Traders who are based in Melksham, and for people who work during the week at a main job but wish to sell to the community.  In fact - what a great thought - I think I'll fly it as a kite at a couple of meeting I have coming up and see what people think!

[I Likes Melksham]

I missed the first few weeks of the market. But I did manage to make it about a month after they started. I like the idea of the market, but I think the vendors participating must have dwindled in numbers over that time. There was one butcher, one veg stall, and then tables that resembled more of a car boot sale. Whilst the non-food sellers do have a place, I was hoping for more of a Farmer's Market-type atmosphere. And I didn't see our local shops selling there, which was very disappointing. (I may have picked an off-day to go.)

Hopefully, the idea picks up and more people are drawn there...both vendors and buyers!

[PhilV]

I would be over the Moon were a Farmer's Market to be a regular event in Melksham!

I'd even cycle in regularly from Bowerhill!

PhilV

[grahame]

I understand that most of the traders in the market are organised to come along (sign up with) a company in Westbury, and cover quite a wide area day by day.   

I would indeed very much like to see some more local farm stores, etc, coming in to the town each week, but they may not be aware of how to get in touch with the Westbury folks - or indeed they may not have even thought about it, or be aware that Melksham's got a market again. After all, the excellent local "Melksham Independent News" probably doesn't reach Seend, Bromham or Broughton Gifford.

With regards to our own town centre traders also taking space in the market ... I suspect it wouldn't make sense commercially for them to do so - it would just dilute their presence.  When the market gets really popular, occasional "guest" appearances would probably server them well for - err - marketing purposes.

[grahame]

In town today ... went to the market but it wasn't there.   Has the experiment failed  ... or is it just an "off week"?

[grahame]

Sad to say ... it faded away ...