Local loyalty success in a tough six months
INCREASED OCCUPANCY of stalls following easing of COVID-19 lockdown has seen markets in Calderdale’s towns play a bigger role in people’s lives, councillors heard.
The pandemic has seen a lot of markets around the country cease trading for the duration but although raising significant challenges for Calderdale Council, which operates them, all six of the borough’s markets have been able to operate during the pandemic.
Markets manager John Walker said the virus had brought a very difficult scenario for all markets because of safety measures which had to be introduced with a resulting £150,000 shortfall in income, members of the council’s Markets Working Party heard.
In particular Hebden Bridge and Elland were back at 100 per cent occupancy, and Brighouse, Todmorden – within a 60 per cent safety limit – and Sowerby Bridge markets, the latter eventually to be demolished, all showing increased open market stall occupancy, or increased occupancy on certain days.
Halifax Borough Market has been most affected with considerable reduced footfall numbers – stable at 5,000 visitors a day but that is around 30 per cent of usual numbers – attributable to people who are shielding and homeworking, the latter significantly obvious at lunchtimes.
Soon it would be back at 75 per cent occupancy – but in context that was the lowest in the borough market’s history, said Mr Walker.
But the other five markets had seen good footfall in the circumstances, in some cases more traders, and demonstrated people valued local services in the pandemic.
“What it suggests is people aren’t moving far from their own community and supporting that local economy is quite important.
“That’s why there has been a little bit of success,” he said.
Mr Walker said the outer markets had seen a growth in occupancy.
At Hebden Bridge, back at 100 per cent occupancy, the community had been “exceptional” in supporting it.
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