The Kintyre Forum

I see from the Courier that the Campbeltown Traders Association are up in arms about the Farmers Market.

Is it just me that thinks this has nothing to do with parking, but more to do with the local businesses feeling they are losing out to what they perceive as outside traders. If a farmers market held once a month for a couple of hours is going to put them out of business then I think there is much more going on and much wider issues than those reported in the paper. In fact, I think the supermarkets and the power they wield are more of an issue.

Also, my feeling is that an event like the market in all probability brings more people into the town on market day than on other days. And surely that can't be a bad thing.

Can only agree that the Famers Market is an added attraction to the town each month and certainly makes me go over the town.

The advent of supermarkets has killed off countless town centres throughout the country. Whilst they can provide all your weekly needs under one roof at a price that we assume is lower than you would get in a local shop, they put local butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers etc. out of business and reduce the choice available to the consumer.

I also thought that the Farmers Market would bring people to the town centre where they might have a look round the shops as well. Maybe not. There's probably a matter of principle here as well, as the shops have to pay rates and the market doesn't. But it is only there on an occasional basis.

I believe that these markets have been successful and popular in other parts of Britain in the promotion of local produce, which is not a bad thing.

I think the Farmers market is a good thing. It is bringing people who maybe normally wouldn't come into town on a Saturday in. And as the market is within walking distance then people will walk into the centre of town. Rather than when maybe they visit the supermarket get everything and just head home.

Proably find that the cars parked in the Square too are people who live in the Square and surounding and not people who are shopping! And in all fairness to the traders, they do pay rates. But the Farmers Market is only there 1 day not every day!

And in all fairness to the traders, they do pay rates.

Not 100% sure on this but I thought the stallholders paid a fee to the council to have a stall at the market.

Malky

I dont see why they cant just hold the Farmer's Market in the Heritage Centre car park??

Thats where it shouldve went in the 1st place; no disruption to the Burnside, still close enough to the town centre and plenty of room. Oh and the Heritage Centre might get a few folk through the door at the same time.....

There shouldve been a new car park built in McKinven & Colvilles yard in Argyll Street anyway rather than the new flats/houses thats going up at the minute, that wouldve helped with parking in the town's centre.

Yes this is true, it's good to bring more people to the town that wouldn't be there and hopefully bringing more trade to all businesses. However, I don't think the stalls at the farmers market have to pay a quarter as much as our local traders have to pay - they have to pay rates year round and adhere to strict health and safety codes etc etc that these stalls don't seem to have to.

It's a shame that the country market doesn't sell much of our locality - are there traders from Campbeltown/Kintyre there? I hope so.

Heritage centre car park is a far better place so it doesn't lose valuable car parking. Although it wouldn't do people any harm to park the car 2 mins away - i.e. on esplanade, street next to aqualibrium, down the front etc and walk 200 metres anyway. If you were in Glasgow you wouldn't think twice about having to walk

I used to live in Germany, and I think that it is the same for most parts of Europe, that Market spaces are used for parking, when not being used by the traders. There are signs up in the Market Square that say parking is allowed at all times except, eg Tuesday and Friday from 7 am to 1 pm, since many markets are on twice a week. It is, naturally, a bit ironic that on the day that more people come to the town, there is less parking, however, the view is that the parking on five days is additional – ie it is only there because the market is not on. I like that way of looking at the issue – although I realise that the situation in the town is a bit different.

I agree with elainemck who says:

Although it wouldn't do people any harm to park the car 2 mins away - i.e. on esplanade, street next to aqualibrium, down the front etc and walk 200 metres anyway

People expect to minimise their walking – and they expect a different answer depending on where they are. They expect to park right outside one of the village shops (eg Southend, Musadale), and moan if all the spaces are taken and they need to walk 30 yards. Yet they are prepared to walk 100 yards in the town, and complain if it creeps up to 150. Yet they don’t bat an eyelid when the need to trek half a mile at Braehead!

The Farmers' Market - as everyone agrees - brings extra business, interest and colour to the town. It is an asset, and it should be possible to organise a suitable space for it that maximises its 'footfall', and benefits all - traders and customers. If the town's other traders reckon that the town needs more/ better parking, then that needs to be addressed, whether or not there is a market. Surely a separate topic. Are they saying that there is only a parking issue on one day a month? If so, then the authorities are unlikely to agree to funding to solve such an occasional problem.

Finally, the last time I was at the market I noticed at least two 'local' businesses. One from around three miles from the town, the other maybe eight. So very local. And these local businesses also go with the Country Market to Tarbert, Ardrishag and Inveraray, etc where I have also seen them operate. I think that that makes for a sensible operation, since for any one of them, their business will always need to come from further afield than just Kintyre itself.

As for payments - it is right that the Council has it in its power to levy charges of different types on such businesses. That regime needs to be based on reasonable powers - not some notion of making it ‘equal with shops’. This will apply to chip and ice-cream vans, as well as market traders.

These markets are successful in other places. Link to article in today's Press and Journal:

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/696285

Isn't Burnside Square a Square first and foremost?

Isn't Burnside Square a Square first and foremost?

I'd say there as so many farmers fields doing noting now, even out on the road to Stewarton....that they could be put to good use.... any day of the week....

So why not have the ''Farmers Markets'' any day you want ? and then there will be no disruption to the town centre at all....

You can have it all to yourselves without disturbing anyone !



maxmix

I'm surprised there isn't more dicsussion on this. Can't see where the traders association are coming from. 3 or 4 hours, 11 times a year isn't an issue and if anything the market is a valuable addition to the town and even better now it is situated in Burnside Square. Which incidentally is a square first and foremost and not a car park.

If car parking is such an issue then why do shop owners/occupiers park their cars in the town centre?

I've often wondered why local businesses don't get involved - it is a good opportunity to show case what you have on offer. Rates can't be used as an argument either as they hardly pay anything now since the introduction of the 80% reduction which will be 100% next year.

If anything I am just trying to get the debate going. All the people I have spoken to support the market.

maxmix wrote:he ''Farmers Markets'' any day you want ? and then there will be no disruption to the town centre at all....

Hoot disruption?

Ship called Dignity wrote:Rates can't be used as an argument either as they hardly pay anything now since the introduction of the 80% reduction which will be 100% next year.

Saw an article in a paper somewhere that said that many don't claim this as they have to apply to their local authority for it and for some reason many small businesses haven't yet applied.

vanadium wrote:

Ship called Dignity wrote:Rates can't be used as an argument either as they hardly pay anything now since the introduction of the 80% reduction which will be 100% next year.

Saw an article in a paper somewhere that said that many don't claim this as they have to apply to their local authority for it and for some reason many small businesses haven't yet applied.

Think it is a statutory reduction which will automatically be reduced from rates bill. Some information on

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scot ... 80085_en_1