Crafty move aids flagging Littlehampton market

Arun District Council’s licensing and enforcement committee agreed to the move on Friday (August 2), ten months after turning down a similar request by market operator Colin Cashin.

Back in October, the committee said there was insufficient evidence of the need to broaden or vary the types of trader at the market, beyond those selling food and produce.

On Friday, Mr Cashin admitted: “It’s not been a great success, which is why I’m here before you again, to ask for the licence to be extended so we can include craft traders.

“It’s very common now for farmers’ markets to have crafts, too. I would like to think if we had crafts in Littlehampton, it could be successful.”

John Edjvet, Arun’s Littlehampton town centre regeneration officer, voiced concerns about the current market’s performance.

He said: “A failed market creates urban blight that we (Arun) are working in partnership with Littlehampton Traders’ Partnership and Littlehampton Town Council to prevent.”

The committee encouraged Mr Cashin to work with Mr Edjvet on plans for the monthly Saturday market.