The valuable contribution made to the economy by South Holland market traders is being highlighted during Love Your Local Market fortnight.
The celebration of local markets is a national initiative and market traders in our district have embraced it as a chance to shout about what they bring to towns including Spalding, Holbeach, Long Sutton and Crowland.
As well as boosting the economy by bringing in shoppers on a regular basis, markets offer a fantastic range of goods and services.
Take Spalding market as an example – you can buy fresh vegetables, fish, bread, meat, clothing, furniture, car parts, mobile phone accessories, greeting cards, gifts, as well as get a key cut and buy your jacket potato for lunch – to name but a few.
South Holland district councillor Roger Gambba-Jones said: “Getting involved in Love Your Local Market is the council’s way of saying that we value market traders and their participation and contribution to the economy of South Holland and to support what traders do.
“We have recently moved the strategic side of the markets under the economic development umbrella to promote a link between the market and established businesses in town and they are doing analysis how to make it more vibrant and keep it sustainable.
“We are quite pleased with how our markets are going – we have people waiting to come in – and they really do bring people into our town centres.”
The Love Your Local Market fortnight, which runs from May 14 to 28, will see traders displaying posters promoting the event, as well as a best dressed stall competition this Saturday.
The district council is also promoting its special offers for one-off stalls to give prospective traders the chance to try it out and possibly get on the first rung of the retail ladder.
