I thought this weekend’s ‘Continental Market’ in Morpeth was more than a bit disappointing. There were far fewer stalls than in past years, and prices were sky-high. They used to be a bit pricey – but £12 a kilo for cheese and £3 for an ordinary loaf of bread is taking the mickey.
And that is the point – we can get better cheese cheaper in the Cheese Shop, we have a baker on the Weds Market, one on the farmers’ market and two bakers in the town all selling as good if not better bread cheaper. And the other stuff on sale:
pate and dried sausage we can get at Morpeth Deli or Gebhards, or the monthly farmers market – again cheaper
dried fruit and nuts we can get at Julian Graves or Morpeth Deli
we can get better sweets, chocolate, fudge – again cheaper – at the excellent sweet shops Morpeth has, or again the Wednesday and farmers’ market
- and even the wine on sale was nothing to write home about
I’m biased – but I think both our Wednesday Market and our monthly farmers’ market have more atmosphere and offer a better range of products and considerably cheaper prices. So – I suggest that the Chamber of Trade review their regular booking of this ‘continental market’ (which is apparently based in Manchester anyway) and start supporting our local Northumbrian makets.
Showing posts with label markets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label markets. Show all posts
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
Morpeth Friday Market – the story continues…
Evaluation of the Morpeth Friday market trial:
NCC reported that the logistics of running a Friday market worked OK and the costs were pretty well covered by rents received – so it is practicable. Meter records show that the car parks in Morpeth were 87% full at peak occupancy over the market Fridays, though this excludes season ticket and permit holder who do not use the meters.
The response to the NCC surveys was disappointing with only six shopkeepers and seven members of the public responding: the shopkeepers were 3 to 2 against the market, with one uncertain, the public were 6 to 1 in favour of the Friday market.
The market traders had a petition of over 200 market customers in favour of the Friday market, and a survey of shopkeepers with 87 returns, showing 80 in favour and 7 against.
The Chamber of Trade’s own survey had 26 responses with 6 for, 18 against and 2 undecided. There is obviously a mismatch between the shopkeepers surveys carried out between the market traders and the Chamber of Trade.
Terry Garnick for NCC concluded that another trial was needed, since there is little firm evidence on the impact of the market on Morpeth, and there was a poor response to the impartial NCC organised survey. However, with the opening of the Sanderson Arcade and in the run-up to Christmas, there were too many extraneous factors to make a fair assessment. He therefore proposed to suspend the Friday market for the present and run a second trial Friday market in February, with the intention of making that permanent if the assessment then was positive. He would also bring in advice from NCC Regeneration team to ensure a proper assessment is carried out. However, he pointed out that he would need clearance from councillors to go ahead with this proposal.
NCC reported that the logistics of running a Friday market worked OK and the costs were pretty well covered by rents received – so it is practicable. Meter records show that the car parks in Morpeth were 87% full at peak occupancy over the market Fridays, though this excludes season ticket and permit holder who do not use the meters.
The response to the NCC surveys was disappointing with only six shopkeepers and seven members of the public responding: the shopkeepers were 3 to 2 against the market, with one uncertain, the public were 6 to 1 in favour of the Friday market.
The market traders had a petition of over 200 market customers in favour of the Friday market, and a survey of shopkeepers with 87 returns, showing 80 in favour and 7 against.
The Chamber of Trade’s own survey had 26 responses with 6 for, 18 against and 2 undecided. There is obviously a mismatch between the shopkeepers surveys carried out between the market traders and the Chamber of Trade.
Terry Garnick for NCC concluded that another trial was needed, since there is little firm evidence on the impact of the market on Morpeth, and there was a poor response to the impartial NCC organised survey. However, with the opening of the Sanderson Arcade and in the run-up to Christmas, there were too many extraneous factors to make a fair assessment. He therefore proposed to suspend the Friday market for the present and run a second trial Friday market in February, with the intention of making that permanent if the assessment then was positive. He would also bring in advice from NCC Regeneration team to ensure a proper assessment is carried out. However, he pointed out that he would need clearance from councillors to go ahead with this proposal.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Friday Market - what do you think?
Tomorrow (Fri 6th Nov) is the last of the six week trial period of a Friday Market in Morpeth. There'll be no market on Friday 13th (understandably), the Chamber of Trade are hosting the Connental Market on Fri 20th (and Sat 21st) - then if the evaluation of the Friday Market is positive, it can return on Fri 27th.
But that's the point - unlike many Council-led consultations, this isn't predecided. There'll be a meeting of the Markets Forum on 18th Nov - when both enthusiasts and doubters will be able to report their experiences. NCC has carried out surveys of customers, traders and shopkeepers - and I'm pleased that the Chamber of Trade is having a meeting on 16th Nov to collate their evidence.
I'll be chairing the Forum meeting - and I'd appreciate any comments or more particularly experiences of the Friday market to feed in. I'm going to try to be systematic, looking at:
i) the practicalities of running the market on Friday (from NCC)
ii) the results of the surveys
iii) feedback from Chamber of Trade, Morpeth Town Council, GMDT and any other organisations with evidence
iv) feedback from the Friday traders, shopkeepers - and Wednesday traders
and v) feedback from the public
I hope that will cover everyone concerned - if not, let me know!
But that's the point - unlike many Council-led consultations, this isn't predecided. There'll be a meeting of the Markets Forum on 18th Nov - when both enthusiasts and doubters will be able to report their experiences. NCC has carried out surveys of customers, traders and shopkeepers - and I'm pleased that the Chamber of Trade is having a meeting on 16th Nov to collate their evidence.
I'll be chairing the Forum meeting - and I'd appreciate any comments or more particularly experiences of the Friday market to feed in. I'm going to try to be systematic, looking at:
i) the practicalities of running the market on Friday (from NCC)
ii) the results of the surveys
iii) feedback from Chamber of Trade, Morpeth Town Council, GMDT and any other organisations with evidence
iv) feedback from the Friday traders, shopkeepers - and Wednesday traders
and v) feedback from the public
I hope that will cover everyone concerned - if not, let me know!
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Thursday, 14 February 2008
What are the markets for?
The responses to the Morpeth Herald article (7th Feb) on my concerns for the future of the markets were better than I expected. Morpeth Town Council is seriously looking at taking over the Market Charter, and the Chairman of Ponteland Parish Council has privately told me they are interested in looking at the Ponteland Farmers’ Market. And even the quote from NCC ‘local markets and farmers’ markets are vital parts of the community’ is positive if non-committal. I note that ‘markets’ are briefly mentioned in the blueprint for the new Unitary Authority.
However the real challenge comes in the letter in the Herald (14th Feb) from my old friend Norman Bateman: who effectively asks ‘what and who is a market for these days?’ – and this is something I’d really like feedback on.
It’s easier with farmers’ markets
i) they do support local businesses – I know several businesses that have restructured or built themselves up through farmers’ markets, and a significant number of jobs have been created or safeguarded through our farmers’ markets
ii) they do supply fresh, local food – reducing food miles and bringing people back in touch with food production and seasonality
The Wednesday market is more difficult: for some, the fact that it dates back to 1199 and is key to Morpeth’s heritage as a market town. But Norman Bateman is right – there are few if any traditional market towns, and Morpeth is more commuter town or business centre than market town. The Council’s strategy says the market is run to attract people into the town. Certainly the Chamber of Trade-sponsored bi-annual continental market does that. There’s also an argument that markets can meet a demand for lower cost produce, though maybe not when there’s a Primark or Matalan.
In fact the Morpeth Weds Market is more than half a farmers market – with local producers (Jimmy Bell, Nick Craig, Muriel Brown, Tony from DeliFarm and Janet from Northumbrian Muffins) selling (mostly) their own produce – while others, like Nicky Wall are launching a new local business through the market. Perhaps this is a way forward.
However the real challenge comes in the letter in the Herald (14th Feb) from my old friend Norman Bateman: who effectively asks ‘what and who is a market for these days?’ – and this is something I’d really like feedback on.
It’s easier with farmers’ markets
i) they do support local businesses – I know several businesses that have restructured or built themselves up through farmers’ markets, and a significant number of jobs have been created or safeguarded through our farmers’ markets
ii) they do supply fresh, local food – reducing food miles and bringing people back in touch with food production and seasonality
The Wednesday market is more difficult: for some, the fact that it dates back to 1199 and is key to Morpeth’s heritage as a market town. But Norman Bateman is right – there are few if any traditional market towns, and Morpeth is more commuter town or business centre than market town. The Council’s strategy says the market is run to attract people into the town. Certainly the Chamber of Trade-sponsored bi-annual continental market does that. There’s also an argument that markets can meet a demand for lower cost produce, though maybe not when there’s a Primark or Matalan.
In fact the Morpeth Weds Market is more than half a farmers market – with local producers (Jimmy Bell, Nick Craig, Muriel Brown, Tony from DeliFarm and Janet from Northumbrian Muffins) selling (mostly) their own produce – while others, like Nicky Wall are launching a new local business through the market. Perhaps this is a way forward.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Markets in transition...
A fair turn-out at Morpeth Farmers' Market today - and the Wednesday Market seems to be surviving the usual post-Christmas decline, despite the occasional cancellation due to high winds.
However - I'm worried about the future of the markets in the transition to the unitary authority. It's a small issue relative to the massive problems involved, but I think it is of major significance to Morpeth. I really can't see the new unitary authority being interested, or having resources, to run the Wednesday Market let alone any farmers' markets.
In theory, I'd have thought that the Morpeth Market Charter would properly come to the Town Council - but I'm not sure they'd be interested in actually running the market.
Then - I can't think of any organisation who would have an interest in running both Morpeth and Ponteland farmers' markets.
Even if there is no interest from parish or town councils, partnerships or trusts - at the very least I think there needs to be some sort of community group or social enterprise running the markets to protect their ethos and objectives.
However - I'm worried about the future of the markets in the transition to the unitary authority. It's a small issue relative to the massive problems involved, but I think it is of major significance to Morpeth. I really can't see the new unitary authority being interested, or having resources, to run the Wednesday Market let alone any farmers' markets.
In theory, I'd have thought that the Morpeth Market Charter would properly come to the Town Council - but I'm not sure they'd be interested in actually running the market.
Then - I can't think of any organisation who would have an interest in running both Morpeth and Ponteland farmers' markets.
Even if there is no interest from parish or town councils, partnerships or trusts - at the very least I think there needs to be some sort of community group or social enterprise running the markets to protect their ethos and objectives.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Morpeth - a plastic bag-free town?
A number of people have spoken to me about making Morpeth a ‘plastic bag-free’ town – following the lead of places like Modbury.
About 17.5 million plastic carrier bags are used worldwide each year, with the majority ending up on landfill sites. Discarded plastic carrier bags block gutters and drains, choke farm animals and marine wildlife and pollute the soil as they gradually break down. Plastic bags clogging the drain network was a contributing factor to the recent floods in Mumbhai (formerly Bombay).
A plastic carrier bag can take between 500 to 1000 years to break down and many of the ‘degradable’ bags (eg photo-degradable) actually only breakdown to inert plastic dust.
Unlike Modbury, neither the Town nor the Borough Council can actually ban the use of plastic bags – and while certain stores are promoting “bags for life” as an alternative to a plastic bag, the chain stores are very unlikely to adopt ‘local Morpeth’ practice, especially when they use plastic bags for advertising.
However consumer and peer pressure can be very powerful. Both Councils can encourage shoppers refuse plastic bags and help traders provide alternatives.
A starting point is to make the Wednesday Market plastic bag free. The two Councils are planning to provide 3-4 months-worth of both re-usable cotton or sisal bags and genuinely biodegradable bags (made entirely from cornstarch and fully compostable) to market traders from February. Whether the initiative expands or carries on after that will depend heavily on the response from shoppers, market traders and shopkeepers.
From a Green point of view, the immediate impact of reusable shopping bags is fairly minor - removing plastic bags from our lives won't make us a sustainable culture anymore than saving the polar bear will stop global warming - but it is a powerful symbol. The disposable plastic bag is the icon of our unsustainable lifestyles. Campaigns to ban them help people to start questioning how and where products are made, how they are transported and where they go when we're finished with them. It makes us look at all consumer goods in a different light.
About 17.5 million plastic carrier bags are used worldwide each year, with the majority ending up on landfill sites. Discarded plastic carrier bags block gutters and drains, choke farm animals and marine wildlife and pollute the soil as they gradually break down. Plastic bags clogging the drain network was a contributing factor to the recent floods in Mumbhai (formerly Bombay).
A plastic carrier bag can take between 500 to 1000 years to break down and many of the ‘degradable’ bags (eg photo-degradable) actually only breakdown to inert plastic dust.
Unlike Modbury, neither the Town nor the Borough Council can actually ban the use of plastic bags – and while certain stores are promoting “bags for life” as an alternative to a plastic bag, the chain stores are very unlikely to adopt ‘local Morpeth’ practice, especially when they use plastic bags for advertising.
However consumer and peer pressure can be very powerful. Both Councils can encourage shoppers refuse plastic bags and help traders provide alternatives.
A starting point is to make the Wednesday Market plastic bag free. The two Councils are planning to provide 3-4 months-worth of both re-usable cotton or sisal bags and genuinely biodegradable bags (made entirely from cornstarch and fully compostable) to market traders from February. Whether the initiative expands or carries on after that will depend heavily on the response from shoppers, market traders and shopkeepers.
From a Green point of view, the immediate impact of reusable shopping bags is fairly minor - removing plastic bags from our lives won't make us a sustainable culture anymore than saving the polar bear will stop global warming - but it is a powerful symbol. The disposable plastic bag is the icon of our unsustainable lifestyles. Campaigns to ban them help people to start questioning how and where products are made, how they are transported and where they go when we're finished with them. It makes us look at all consumer goods in a different light.
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Interactive Leaflet 1 - Markets
I'm going to post text from our leaflet to give blog readers a chance to comment on what we've said - one section at a time - starting with Markets:
Nic has championed Morpeth Farmers’ Market from its launch in 1999 and we think it is one of the best things the council runs. And of course, it’s ‘green’ both to buy local (low foodmiles) produce and to support local businesses.
As Chairman of the Castle Morpeth Markets Partnership, Nic has overseen the major investment in the Wednesday Market and its transfer onto the Market Place. We’d like to see lots more done to develop both markets so by re-electing Nic, you can help make sure he’s there to carry on the job.
Nic has championed Morpeth Farmers’ Market from its launch in 1999 and we think it is one of the best things the council runs. And of course, it’s ‘green’ both to buy local (low foodmiles) produce and to support local businesses.
As Chairman of the Castle Morpeth Markets Partnership, Nic has overseen the major investment in the Wednesday Market and its transfer onto the Market Place. We’d like to see lots more done to develop both markets so by re-electing Nic, you can help make sure he’s there to carry on the job.
Saturday, 31 March 2007
What do you think of the market so far?
There’s a survey about the Morpeth Wednesday Market in the latest issue of the Borough Council’s ‘Gateway’ magazine. I’m hoping that people will take the opportunity to respond to it – because (if re-elected) I’m likely to be working on further development of the market.
I’ve been on the Castle Morpeth Markets Partnership – which includes Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and the Greater Morpeth Development Trust – since it was set up – and I’ve been chairman for the last five years.
So – I’m one of the ones to praise or blame for the transfer to the Market Place and the investment in new stalls etc. Of course, I think it’s a big improvement – though it could be even better – and I think we’re bucking the trend which is seeing markets across the country in decline. But – complete the survey or get in touch with me direct to tell me what you think…
If you haven’t seen the survey – and it’s only one page – get in touch and I’ll send you a copy.
I’ve also been responsible through the Markets Partnership for Morpeth farmers’ market – which I’m immensely proud of, and think is one of the best things the Council runs. There should be survey about Morpeth (and Ponteland) farmers’ markets in the June issue of Gateway – but you needn’t wait till then to tell me what you think about it.
If you’ve not been yet – do come along and see what Morpeth farmers’ market is about – Sunday 1st April and Sunday 6th May.
Election Imprint: Promoted by Nic Best, 57 Olympia Gardens, Morpeth on behalf of MidNorthumberland Green Party
I’ve been on the Castle Morpeth Markets Partnership – which includes Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and the Greater Morpeth Development Trust – since it was set up – and I’ve been chairman for the last five years.
So – I’m one of the ones to praise or blame for the transfer to the Market Place and the investment in new stalls etc. Of course, I think it’s a big improvement – though it could be even better – and I think we’re bucking the trend which is seeing markets across the country in decline. But – complete the survey or get in touch with me direct to tell me what you think…
If you haven’t seen the survey – and it’s only one page – get in touch and I’ll send you a copy.
I’ve also been responsible through the Markets Partnership for Morpeth farmers’ market – which I’m immensely proud of, and think is one of the best things the Council runs. There should be survey about Morpeth (and Ponteland) farmers’ markets in the June issue of Gateway – but you needn’t wait till then to tell me what you think about it.
If you’ve not been yet – do come along and see what Morpeth farmers’ market is about – Sunday 1st April and Sunday 6th May.
Election Imprint: Promoted by Nic Best, 57 Olympia Gardens, Morpeth on behalf of MidNorthumberland Green Party
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