Markets

Stratford is a market town and we fully support them as long as they're in the right place at the right time to benefit everyone.

Currently there is a Market on Waterside which has little support from locals and is detrimental to most businesses.  We regard the following issues as important to tackle.

1. On critical trading days the markets do not encourage footfall to businesses in the heart of the town.  Wood Street, Rother Street (the market square), Meer Street and Greenhill Street are virtually empty on some of the busiest trading days.
2. Special events have been handed over to the current market provider by the BID with the support of SDC.  The special events are simply more markets.
3. The BID survey produced during lockdown about the markets has yet to be fully analysed and was deliberately misrepresented at Cabinet.  We will analyse it and publish the correct results.
4. Waterside, the River and the Theatre are already enough of an attraction as well as publicly funded amenities.  People travel from all over the world to see them.  Why on earth are we shrouding them in PVC when Rother Street could be used to draw people through the Town to an additional attraction?
5. Visitors to the RSC have to walk in direct conflict on the road.
6. The market offering is poor and doesn't appeal to locals.