The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Market move could be end, say farmers
Organisers of the St Andrews Fife Farmers’ Market were dealt a blow as they made preparations for this weekend’s event and warned closure may be “just around the corner”.
Organisers have been told by Fife Council it can no longer be accommodated in the town centre.
The market will again be held in the Argyle Street car park, where they have had a temporary base since farmers’ markets were permitted to reopen again in August.
Guy Wade, chairman of Fife Farmers’ Markets, said: “A huge amount of logistical work and Covid safety planning had been put in place in advance of the market returning, including additional volunteers, one-way systems, signage, sanitising stations; all ensuring that the necessary preparations were made to allow for a safe, successful outdoor market.
“After eagerly waiting for over seven months for the reopening of the Market Street farmers’ market, twinned with a very difficult half-year of trading, hearing the news four days before the market was due to open was a hard pill to swallow.
“And whilst the market will still go ahead this Saturday in the Argyle Street car park with over 20 stallholders booked in, the lower footfall to this location has progressively made this market less and less viable to a point at which closure of this market is just around the corner.”
Mr Wade added that he is hopeful shoppers will make a detour to support the event, which is key to the small producers who take on stalls.
Fife Council’s service manager for sustainable transport and parking , John Mitchell , said concerns over managing social distancing in the busy street prompted the move.
Lucy Denvir, consultant in public health, NHS Fife, said: “Following a risk assessment, NHS Fife Public Health support the recommendation by Fife Council to relocate the St Andrews Farmers’ Market to Argyle Street car park.
“Public safety and reducing the transmission rate of coronavirus is our priority.
“This move will help to support appropriate physical distancing between stalls.
“So far, Fife has done relatively well in keeping Covid -19 cases to a minimum.
“However, we can’t be complacent, because the virus is still out there, it hasn’t gone away, and cases can rise quickly.
“Although there is less risk outside, there are still risks. This means people must always maintain a two metres distance when walking around town or queuing to get into shops.
“Spaces for People in St Andrews and other adaptations in and around the town are helping to ensure that people can safely move around town by making it easier for everyone to social distance.”