Speciality Sunday markets to be held in Southwell

Specialist Sunday markets are to be held in Southwell to encourage community involvement and increase the number of customers.

Town councillor Mrs Beryl Prentice is chairman of the committee responsible for the market.

“It is a lovely area and we want it to be used for more community events,” she said.

The first specialist market will be a week on Sunday, from 2pm-4pm, on a Green Fingers And Gardens theme.

Mrs Prentice said they hoped keen gardeners who had seedlings to spare or garden equipment they no longer needed would come along and sell them on the market.

“We have been in touch with allotment holders and the gardening club and hope people will come along and support the event,” she said.

Council chairman Mr Andy Gregory said the council wanted to use the space to help promote groups and for it to be used by people in Southwell.

“There are a lot of ideas for the Market Square and how it can be used,” he said.

“This is one of the initiatives led by the committee, which is looking at how to develop the area and what happens there.”

Assistant clerk Karen Green said the council was keen to maintain traditional market values and encourage local shopping.

“The idea of the specialist markets arose from the innovative thinking of the council,” she said.

'Market Square is a beautiful area'

There will be another specialist Sunday market on July 1 for the sale of unwanted games, books and uniforms, which is being aimed at families, schools and groups like the Scouts and Guides.

There will be a ceramics market in August.

Tina Bettison, who recently opened Beloved@thebarn art gallery, said she felt any project that brought more people into Southwell and encouraged visitors to come and shop was a good idea.

“The Market Square is a beautiful area and it would be lovely if more use was made of it,” she said.

“The more that people are encouraged to come into Southwell and support local businesses the better.”

A stall on the Sunday market costs £10 for non-business traders and £25 for businesses.

They must be booked in advance by contacting the council on 01636 816103 or email admin@southwell-tc.gov.uk

The main market is held on Saturdays where there are 20 regular stallholders selling a range of produce.