Following the news last week that the company behind Wilmslow Artisan Market has been dissolved, the Town Council has assured traders that it is committed to the markets continuing to take place in the town, without disruption.
Three traders attended the Town Council meeting to raise their concerns about the future of the market and its impact on their livelihood.
Angela Kapoor, Wilmslow resident and business owner who trades at Wilmslow Artisan Market, said "As a business we're very concerned that there might potentially be disruption to the scheduling of events in the short term while a provider is found, now that the original partnership that was providing the event has gone.
"My business is under huge pressure each month to cover considerable expenses, we have rent, staff costs and other expenses and we couldn't survive, even in the short term, if we can't somehow trade in Wilmslow. There are no other street trading opportunities in Wilmslow and we can't possibly contemplate taking permanent retail premises. If there is no market in April we'll have to consider starting to wind up the business, it will be a disaster for us having invested tens of thousands of pounds in setting up our operation in Wilmslow.
"It is the grassroots enterprises like ours which turn to local people to fulfil staffing needs, which support local suppliers and which support our young people - we have close ties with the high school - and we think we deserve the support of Wilmslow Town Council and Cheshire East."
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Keith Purdom said "We were stunned to read the publicity about the break-up of the partnership, obviously their business as partners is of no concern to us but what is of concern to us is the continuity and the ongoing nature of the market."
Town councillors Keith Purdom and Ruth McNulty along with Cllr Rod Menlove and Diane Smith (Town Centre Manager) from Cheshire East Council met with the two organisers of the market, Denise Valente and Vicky Jackson, on Monday, 17th March.
Speaking about that meeting Cllr Purdom said "We got to an encouraging point that they were both saying that we should be confident that between them they can organise the April market and we are meeting them again towards the end of this week to look for certainty about April and obviously ongoing continuity.
He added "This Council is very supportive of the market, we will leave no stone unturned in providing continuity.
"It's a real asset to the town, we know that the retailers like it, we know that the public like it and we've heard tonight it is important it is to many of the stall holders, particularly those who are residents of Wilmslow."
Cllr Purdom continued "Just to reassure you, we are very well aware of the importance to the town of this market and we will continue to work very hard to provide continuity and we'll make an announcement through the local media as soon as we can give certainty but you should be able to plan for the April market as you would have done before all this became public knowledge."
This month's Wilmslow Artisan Market was rebranded the 'Go Wild Artisan Market' to help them raise awareness of Lauren Wild's ambition to raise £14,000 by her 14th birthday in July. Lauren, 13, is currently undergoing treatment for Lymphoma at Manchester Children's Hospital and raising money for both Manchester Childrens Hospital and Teenage Cancer trust.
Thanks to the generosity of local people, the team raised £1,500 at the weekend which has been added to Lauren's existing donations, bringing the total raised so far to £10,682.
The Go Wild Team will be in action again this weekend; Lauren's mum and dad, Jacqui and Phil will be leading the group running the half-marathon and the rest of the team will be out and about in their green wigs and Go Wild t-shirts, collecting for Lauren's causes.
If you would like to give then just visit http://www.justgiving.com/Run-For-Lauren or http://www.justgiving.com/GoWildforLauren.
Comments
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Finally, a huge thank you to the many locals who shop with us in Wilmslow. We appreciate and value your continued support!
Tate and Lindsay- The Goal Post, Bank Square, Wilmslow
Certain shop keepers saw to that by getting it switched to a Sunday
They know who they are and I hope they are happy now
This current mess is another nail in the coffin
I have traded at wilmslow from day one
However traders need footfall and certainty of continuity
Other markets are springing up and attracting a lot of interest
Let's hope people don't start trading elsewhere.
Heaven forbid that the massed ranks of Wilmslow residents might spoil that by wanting to shop there too on a Saturday. Well let's hope the retailers are happy, although somehow I doubt they will realise what they have done until it will be too late. Good luck trying to create the luxurious, high-end ambiance needed to sell a £5,000 watch, when the shops either side of you are boarded up or are Poundlands.
But it does highlight why Town Councils do as much harm as good. Taking a more active role in local matters is not always a good thing as this intervention shows. They spent £5,000 to kill off the best retail initiative to happen in Wilmslow for decades. A genius for failure that we haven't seen since John Prescott left office. Perhaps the indifference of Cheshire East was not such a bad thing after all.
Still, at least WTC have stopped our green and pleasant fields from being dug up for housing estates.
Oh, wait a minute......that's another epic failure.
Perhaps I'll ask for a refund for my WTC precept (a.k.a. tax) under the Trade Descriptions Act, because this was clearly not how they sold the new town council to us.