Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I have just watched an article on BBC breakfast about National Market week and all around the country, Towns are having street-markets, inviting entrepreneurs to take a stall, farmers markets to bring their wares to Town and all bringing high foot-fall to the proper businesses too.
Everything that was in that article, is in the paper I have written about how to bring a successful street-market to Dover - and bodies like the Town Team and Town Council don't even acknowledge I have sent them the documents. Not even a "thanks but no thanks".
Yes, this is a grumble - not for me, but for Dover.
Everything in the paper is exactly what Mary Portas wants.
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
good idea roger,but with the apathy around dover how long would a market last.grumble over.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
I saw the item as well Roger but think a market in Pencester where there is more footfall might have more success than it has had in the square.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Jan - I'm talking of changing the day and having the stalls starting at the top of Pencester and going down Biggin Street to the Market Square and when something is on in the M.S. the stalls just go up Biggin Street towards the Town Hall.
Brian - with a market of between 30 and 40 stalls, it will attract people into the Town and there'll be money to promote /market this in Kent-wide papers like the KOS Saturday and Sunday papers.
A well-run market will make a lot of difference to Dover.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
It would also be nice to see market stalls on the seafront when the weather is good.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
anything would be better than the present handful of stalls near market square that just make the area look scruffy.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
Unfortunately, as has been proven, a street market would have to overcome the local apathy, the antipathy of the shop keepers and the "events" around the big telly in the Market Square. British weather precludes a regular market in such open areas as the sea front or Pencester Gardens. Moving it up the High Street would seriously impinge on the developing 'cafe culture' of outside seating.
If you can get around those problems (or get rid of the telly) you have a fair chance at a good market, as long as you can start with a good variety of stalls ( the sort that would tend to only book a space once they see it is viable). Joseph Heller eat your heart out.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
roger,we had a market of 30 + stalls up where jewsons is now,wittled down to 2 stalls within 8 weeks,then non existant in 9.that was in the last 15 years.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
have stated before how other towns flourish (folkestone an example)
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Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
The one on the old Bunkers Hill coal/coke tip back in the 80s? did very well for a while then fizzled out after a few months. The butcher did a roaring trade every time, I used to buy a weeks supply of meat and got a pigs head free if I wanted it, it made lovely brawn.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Markets are no longer the draw they were, the supermarkets now do most things at very cheap prices and probably better quality than the market stuff.
Audere est facere.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
From my research, I absolutely disagree that markets have had their day.
This is a short extract from my street-market paper:
"We must now leap at the opportunity to create a successful market out of the embarrassing mess we have had each Saturday; we need to grab with both hands, the chance to give Dover - Town, businesses, residents and visitors, a good quality, professional run and professionally looking, street-market.
We bring a street market to Dover on a day that does not conflict with neighbouring Towns; this will be a Tuesday, but could also be Thursday after Tuesday's success has been proven; we'll then get more stalls here and even greater benefits to the Town, the retail shops in Dover and the market stall holders.
• Planning permission is in place and so is the licence to run it.
• A new Market Manager awaits the opportunity; he too has good ideas.
• Also invite local Farmers Market stall-holders to take a stall here
• Advertise for budding entrepeneurs to take a market stall.
• Create incentives for new stall-holders to set up in Dover.
• Ensure stalls sell quality products and mainly do not compete with shops.
• Stalls to be of uniform size and have green-white striped covers.
• Litter & rubbish will be taken care of by the Market Manager.
The stalls will start at the junction of Pencester Road and Biggin Street, working towards Cannon Street and the Market Square. This will help enormously with increasing the footfall for Dover's retail businesses as well as the Museum and the Bronze-Age Boat Gallery and Roman Painted House.
On days that there are events and activities in the Market Square, the stalls will simply move up Biggin Street, beyond the Pencester Road junction, so any events will not (negatively) affect the viability of the market and vice versa".
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
most people i have spoken to agree that the market should start from pencester road and go down biggin street.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
roger,canterbury market needs looking at for diversaty.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
There'll be plenty of diversity Brian; I do think though that those in charge will not be flexible enough to allow the market to flourish.
I spoke with them a few weeks ago and from what I have seen, nothing has happened, but then, not being in the loop, means that I am not updated. It could get all cocked up.
After permission has been granted for it to happen, it should be left to those who know, to organise it (and I'm not talking about me).
Too many who know nothing about running a market, but have the authority, have to exert their authority and usually to the detriment of whatever it may be.
Roger
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
it might worth having a chat with the stall holders at canterbury about pitch prices etc,to find out why its sucssesful there.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thank Brian,.
The new market-manager will be doing the recruiting (if he gets the chance).
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
folkestone market also appears to draw the crowds worth visit there to
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Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
I've always thought that "themed" markets seem to do well, i.e. French, German, British Food and craft / gift stalls. If they could be held on a rotational basis it would serve a core group of buyers. Maybe inviting entertainers and experts from each theme to demonstrate ways to use products could be a draw? Local Charities could also be invited to have a stall to promote their group and fundraise? I'm sure Roger has surveyed the footfall of visitors to the town and that should influence the siting of the market.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Lesley'
your old S.R.B. coming out there lol
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