A council is proposing to offer lower market fees in two towns in an attempt to attract more stallholders.
A council is proposing to offer lower market fees in two towns in an attempt to attract more stallholders.
South Holland District Council is proposing to offer lower offer fees for regular traders at Crowland and Holbeach markets from April this year.
Stallholders who have stood for 12 consecutive market days could be paying £5 per pitch at Crowland and £8 at Holbeach, if the plans go ahead.
Regular traders are paying £11 per pitch at Long Sutton market and £10 at Spalding market.
At Tuesday’s Policy Development Panel meeting, Coun Paul Barnes asked why the proposed fees for stallholders were lower in Crowland and Holbeach.
Phil Perry, assistant director for leisure and local services, explained that the proposed fees for stallholders have been carefully considered to reflect the popularity of each market.
Mr Perry explained that Long Sutton has additional cost due to the road closure, which is funded by the council and traders.
He said: “Crowland is a town has a lot of people commuting – they go to work outside of the town.
“So, to try and encourage traders back this year, the prices have been reduced to try to encourage pick up.
“Holbeach, again, has a market where it’s now further away from the centre so the incentive is to try to draw the traders through.
“But Long Sutton is a thriving market and Spalding on a Tuesday. On Saturdays, there’s a lot more markets across a number of areas.”
The authority is also planning to offer an additional incentive including allowing new stallholders to stand for free for their first market.
Any trader who hasn’t traded at a South Holland District Council market within the last 12 months will also be entitled to this incentive, under the plans.
The draft market policy will be considered by members of South Holland District Council’s cabinet at a later date.
