Dear Readers,
I wonder how many townspeople know about the intention to close our Tuesday Market held in the town centre?
While shopping there I was dismayed to hear this news from one of the stallholders. Apparently the owners of our town centre, Freshwater, have contacted them to say as from 1st June they can no longer trade in the town centre. Our Town Council had promised to discuss this matter, as they hold the market licence and gave the stallholders permission to be in the town, but up till now no one has been to talk to them face to face!
Some time ago the Market Traders were told their stalls were “looking scruffy” and it was thought they were lowering the tone of the newly modernised town centre! The market traders spokesperson contacted the Town Council and offered to purchase new covers for the market stalls at their own cost, and this offer was put to Freshwater but refused. They have also been told there is no other plot of land available near the town centre for them to continue trading as a market.
They asked about the piece of land which has stood neglected just over the road from Aldi, but were told this was private land owned by Durham County Council and has been designated for future use and could not be offered to them.
I visited our MP’s office this morning soon after visiting the Marker Traders and Phil Wilson’s aide Paul Trippett told me our MP would not be in the office until Friday, and the stallholders must contact him personally to arrange a meeting to discuss this problem.
During the last part of our town’s regeneration the market traders where given a small area on Greenwell Road to trade from on a Tuesday. This was not ideal, but our traders struggled on through all weathers determined not to let the townspeople down and still offer a service.
This morning a number of elderly people were distressed as to where they could purchase some of the items they usually get every Tuesday.
Most have no transport and cannot use public transport through ill health. What do you say to these poor people who rely on this Tuesday Market day, sorry but tough luck? There has been no public or press notice of this major change.
Is this because both the Town Council and Freshwater know how much controversy this will cause?
I received a telephone call from Town Clerk Andrew Bailey who informs me that the Town Council have their hands well and truly tied in this matter, as all they do is hold the licence for the Market. It is down to Daejan on behalf of Freshwater who have told the Town Council they want the Market to cease trading as soon as possible. There has been no public announcement about this as the Town Clerk has been busy writing letters to all the Market Traders as he thought this was more important.
The Town Council only got to know on 30th April in a letter from Daejan asking them to write to all stallholders telling them that market trading will cease on June 1st.
Where do we go from here you may well ask? Well the only thing I think which must be done, is to put pressure on Durham County Council and ask if they would have more sympathy in this matter. If enough people got their pens and paper out, and wrote a letter to County Hall maybe they would sit up and take notice, and offer the Market Traders this small piece of land available next to the Cubby.
People of Aycliffe you have a duty to do, if you want this market to remain, tell Durham County Council. Perhaps Newton News would print a petition in the newspaper for people to sign?
We wish our Market Traders good luck remembering all the years of their good service to this town. I will pray for you all, and hope that all will turn out well. God bless.
Pam Lovelass
Town Centre Chaplain