CHEADLE’S first Farmers Market has been a great success with more market events planned for the coming months.
Cheadle town councillor and market superintendent Ray Wood has launched the once-a-month event in conjunction with the High Street site’s owner Northern Markets in response to community requests.
The market, which started this Saturday, March 9, from 8.30am, will now be held every second Saturday of the month.
Mr Wood said: “It went brilliantly. It was really busy and every trader practically sold out and the public were really up for it, there was a lot of people in High Street. I’m really pleased, it was really good.
“I’m already planning the next Farmers’ Market for April, which will be bigger and better.
“Every trader that was there on Saturday has said they’ll come back and I’ve had interest from additional traders as well.
“I’ve also been speaking to a lady who is interested in starting a monthly antiques market, maybe for every third or fourth Saturday in the month, but that’s still in the balance at the moment.
“I fully support that and anything I can do to push the market, but it’s just an idea at the moment.
“Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has issued statements about how much they support the market, one thing they could do is provide free parking once a month in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market.
“Another idea is to run the newly launched Pugin Audio Guide tours at St Giles R C Church in Charles Street on the same days as the Farmers’ Market from the market place, because all these things needs to get together.”
Stalls who attended Cheadle’s Farmers Market included: a butcher, who breeds and kills all of his own meat; the Great British Cake Company; Half Penny Green Vineyards, a biscuit; shortbread and cake stall; a bread stall; a coffee stall, home-made pies stall; home-made scotch eggs stall; a curry stall; a pancake-filled roll stall and a free-range egg stall.
Cheadle market has suffered a tumultuous past.
After it was managed by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for six years. the authority decided it wanted to buy the site last year, as its lease was due to end.
But, after its initial offer was refused, it announced this year that it could not justify the sale and is now looking at setting up its own market elsewhere in Cheadle.
For more information contact Ray Wood on 07970 336906 or Dave Sargeant on 07988 958704.
To see a video of the market use this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLAMVO6-_m4
