Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Market on move as glass falls from roof
THE Bath Farmers’ Market has been moved to a new location after glass fell from the roof in Green Park Station.
Part of the building was closed after inspectors decided it was unsafe and, after a brief stint in the Homebase car park, the market was cancelled last weekend for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.
As of today Bath Soft Cheese will host the event at Park Farm, in Kelston, which not only means the farmers’ market can go ahead, but it will actually be held on a farm.
The cheesemongers usually sell their wares at the market, along with traders like Pullin’s Bakery, The Honey Stash and Scout and Sage Micro Distillery.
After hearing that last week’s market would be cancelled, Ruth Kimber, of Kimber Farm Traditional Meats, said: “Because the station building is listed, I don’t think the repairs will be as straightforward and it might take some time.”
Mrs Kimber, who comes from farming stock, has sold beef and pork in Green Park Station for 16 years and said she was “passionate about good food”.
“The market is very important to Bath because it was one of the first to resume after the farmers’ markets all died away,” she added.
Ahead of last week’s missed event, The Ethical Property Company released a statement on the station’s website.
The update said: “As the management company operating Green Park Station in Bath, we have had to take the difficult decision to close access to parts of Green Park Station to ensure the safety of those who work and visit this amazing building.”
The statement added: “The majority of the site does remain open and businesses are still trading as usual.
“We are currently waiting for our landlords, Sainsbury’s, to provide us with a copy of the buildings audit and risk assessment and further information on the action they will take to ensure we can open the affected section fully and safely.”