Markets offer vital access to affordable local produce and support the livelihoods for smaller traders and producers. Closing them exacerbates the strain on supermarkets and on other forms of Government support. We believe that where possible, markets should be re-opened as soon as possible, be supported to stay open and remain successful.
Markets have been declared an essential service by the Government and we have visited fantastic examples of markets being operated safely and responsibly, seeing good turnout, and helping to keep small businesses going through this crisis in locations including, Preston, Manchester and at Heskin Hall in Chorley.
We need your help
1 Please copy and paste this letter and email it to your local councillor;
Dear [NAME OF COUNCILLOR],
I am getting in touch regarding our local market, [INSERT NAME] which I would urge you to support to stay open and to help feed our local area during this crisis.
The market not only provides food and other essentials for those who may not be able to afford or access it elsewhere, but it also provides an income for small businesses. Without markets, both of these groups would put further strain either on government or charity support - including the services run by the Council - or on supermarket supply.
The official government advice is that food markets can stay open. I would urge you to do the following to help ensure this can happen:
Permit markets to remain open where that is in your control
Use your social media and communications channels to let residents know that markets are still open.
Clearly, markets must make every effort to ensure that Government advice on health and safety and social distancing are followed – and guidance, capacity and support should be given to market holders to do this.
Support on good market practice is available from the following sources:
NMTF (the national body for market street traders) have produced guidance for all market operators and traders
NAMBA (National Association of British Markets) have launched an information page for market updates on the latest guidance and announcements and have published their position here
In some local areas, markets are now reopening where they have put the right systems and support in place, and clearly communicating the status of the market via local channels so residents know that they can shop there.
If you can help to support the market, please let me know.
Regards
[YOUR NAME}
Markets across the UK have been at the heart of our towns, cities and communities for centuries and have a proven track record in supplying local people with food and goods.
As England enters another period of lockdown, we demand that the Government give markets parity with supermarkets in terms of the supply of essential and non-essential goods during this period. Markets should be allowed to remain fully open.
Markets have demonstrated throughout 2020 that they are a safe and reliable source of goods for local and vulnerable people. They are a vital asset to the vibrancy and economy of local communities, and they should be allowed to remain fully open.
The petition is supported by the two main industry bodies for markets.
NABMA (National Association of British Market Authorities) NMTF (National Market Traders Federation)
