Residents in Bishop Auckland are being asked to help shape plans to revitalise the town’s market.
Durham County Council is developing a new markets strategy and street trading policy and is seeking the views of residents, shoppers and traders in order to ensure they are taken into account.
The strategy is aimed at improving local markets and boosting town centre economies, for example by having more speciality markets, improving access for disabled people, having a wider mix of local traders and increasing customer numbers.
At the end of May, Cabinet members agreed to explore the possibility of alternative management arrangements in the future for the ten markets currently controlled by the county council.
A consultation has been launched, which will run until Thursday, 23rd August and will look at a wide range of issues relating to markets and street trading.
Owen Cleugh, consumer protection manager at Durham County Council, said, “We’re asking people to give us their views so that we can take their feedback into account as we develop the plans.” There are a number of ways people can take part in the consultation.
An online survey can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/consultation.
An event will be held to enable interested parties, including traders and residents, to look at and feed back on the proposals.
This will take place on Tuesday 10th July at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, between 4pm and 9pm.
Durham County Council will have its own market stall where people can take part in the consultation.
The market stall will be at Bishop Auckland Market on Saturday 28th July.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
