COUNCIL bureaucrats have been accused of ‘jeopardising the future’ of Wellingborough town centre by a ‘catastrophic move to ban the Continental Market.
Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID) has joined forces with Wellingborough Chamber of Commerce and the Town Centre Partnership to demand the council re-think its ban the Continental Market, which was due to take place in March in Market Street – the same location it has used since launching five years ago.
The BID is paid for by businesses and stages events and activities aimed at encouraging people into the town centre through its Discover Wellingborough campaign.
The move could mean all other one-off markets, craft events and community stalls are also banned and comes after ignored attempts at a compromise made by the BID.
John Cable, executive director of Wellingborough BID, received the blow after applying to the hold the market in its usual place on March 20. In a reply, the council quoted its self-regulated Market Rights Policy, which states no market can be authorised within 6.6 miles of Wellingborough’s regular market.
He said: “The decision to ban the Continental Market, which has been happily running in the same location for the past five years was catastrophic, a move which will jeopardise the future of the town centre.
“At a time when Wellingborough is facing one of the toughest trading times in its history, with the opening of the multi-million pound Rushden Lakes development on the horizon we can only see this ludicrous decision as a non-reversible loss to the town.”
Mr Cable along with BID chairman Chris Bailey met with the council’s three most senior heads of department, including Julie Thomas, head of planning and development, to plead the council to retract its decision. However, the decision was upheld with members of the council also rejecting the move.
The business community says the Continental Market is a speciality short-term market, which cannot be seen to compromise the traditional market in any way.
In fact, a study commissioned by Wellingborough Borough Council confirmed footfall increased when special functions took place in the town centre.
Figures show that last year’s Italian Market held on April 14 generated a footfall increase of more than 30 per cent, resulting in over 3,000 extra visitors compared to the previous year.
Chris Bailey added: “Our concerns about the markets’ future are at a critical level. Our suggestion to help by re-locating the Continental Market to Pebble Lane, which would actually increase footfall to the Market Place even more has also fallen on deaf ears. It’s like the council is trying to lockdown the town centre.”
