Ref: PR 3260
Date: 05/12/2011

The future of South Elmsall Market looks secure if a proposal to transfer its operation to the town council gets the goes ahead from Wakefield Council’s Cabinet.

Wakefield Council has been looking at ways of making the markets service more sustainable as part of its work to address budget reductions and earlier this year decided that it would look at different ways of delivering four of its eight markets at Hemsworth, Featherstone, Normanton and South Elmsall.

Cllr David Dagger, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Markets, said: “We have come to the conclusion that South Elmsall Market is too valuable an asset to the town to allow it to close or to move it to another site. Early negotiations with South Elmsall Town Council have been very positive and they have submitted an expression of interest in taking on the running of the market. We are now proposing further discussions with members with a view to them leasing the market in its current location.

“I am confident that this proposal will result in a more sustainable market which will benefit the local community, which is why I will be recommending this proposal to Cabinet next week.”

The report to Cabinet states that the Town Council may be better placed to improve occupancy at the market, which currently runs at around 57%.

ENDS

Notes:

The running of Hemsworth Market was transferred to Hemsworth Town Council in October and the running of Featherstone Market is due to be transferred to Featherstone Town Council in January.

Discussions with Normanton Town Council and traders at the market have led to proposals around the market staying in district council control but with more support from the town council and traders on the day to day running to make it more sustainable in the future. This is being reviewed in March 2012.

All of Wakefield Council run markets continue to trade as normal.