Farmers' market closes down (From Free Press Series)

Farmers' market closes down

A FARMERS' market, set up to support local food producers in Monmouthshire, has been brought to a close.

Monmouth Farmers' Market has been suspended until April while organisers consider how best to continue trading in the town.

The market has been held under the arches of the Shire Hall on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month since it was set up in 1999 and all the stall-holders are from the surrounding area.

However, farmers say they have been badly hit by recent changes to the town centre and trade has suffered.

The last Monmouth Farmers' Market was held on Wednesday, December 10, and organisers have told customers they will look to trade again in the spring.

Market traders are waiting to see how changes to the parking arrangements in Monmouth effect the town.

They are also looking for a better venue close to the Monnow Bridge. Sarah Smith, the market manager, said: "We have told our customers we will be out of action until at least April and then we are going to suck it and see.

"We are very much hoping we will be back in business in April, but until we get some news from the council as to what is going to happen at the bottom of the town, we are not planning."

Monmouth Farmers' Market has been a thriving venture, which was well attended by local producers and shoppers.

However, the market struggled to recover after the foot and mouth epidemic and a number of traders did not return.

There was a further blow to trade with the re-location of the town's post office and the lack of available parking in Monmouth.

Monmouth's Mayor and original co-ordinator for the market, Cllr Sue White, said: "It just highlights the problem in Monmouth for all businesses. They all have this problem of where to park and how long they can park.

"It is not just the farmers market, but it is more difficult for them because they bring bigger vehicles.

"There have been a lot of problems with them parking on the cobble stones. This is what happens when people put the cobbles before farmers."