Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Farmers’ market’s future secure
A BENEFACTOR has stepped in to help save the weekly farmers’ market at Chartham, which faced closure after being hit with a huge hike in rent for using the village hall.
The stallholders have been trading for the past five years after the community business was set up by husband and wife Martin and Sandra Cook.
They had been paying a peppercorn rent for the hall of just £1 a week in return for also providing key-holding duties.
But the village hall management committee, which is chaired by the vicar, the Rev Phil Brown, has decided to increase the rate to £60 a week.
The Cooks said the increase is unaffordable because it would destroy one of the key aims of the market, which is to support local good causes.
Last Thursday was meant to be the last one, but a mystery benefactor has stepped in with an offer to pay the £60 weekly bill for the foreseeable future.
The market organisers were yesterday (Wednesday) going back to the village hall committee to tell members they could now meet the new rent.
Mrs Cook said: “We just hope they don’t move the goalposts again. The aim of the market is to give local businesses a boost and support local organisations like the youth club and over-60s club with the proceeds. We knew there was a review coming because the key-holding duties have been taken away. But we were not expecting that sort of increase.
“We have about 10 stall holders, some of them charities, selling produce and crafts, who each pay £5 for their pitch. We use the proceeds to support a variety of good causes in the village.
“For example, it has paid to take a group of youngsters to Chessington zoo, and a Christmas lunch for our pensioners.
“But the market is also an important social gathering and has become very much part of village life.”
She added: “There has been uproar in the village about it. Lots of our supporters are really downhearted and now even a petition has been started up. But we have also heard the committee is planning to set up its own market.”
Mr Brown told the Gazette there were “legal issues” around the arrangement with the farmers’ market which had thrown up difficulties.
On Tuesday he said: “The trustees are due to meet tomorrow but I can’t say any more than that. It’s all up in the air at the moment.”