Shoppers flock back to Petworth Farmers' Market

Nearly 18 months ago Chichester District Council pulled the plug on Petworth Farmers Market declaring it was no viable.
ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Howard Smith, left, with Yvonne Holland and Wayne Duerden.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145120001ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Howard Smith, left, with Yvonne Holland and Wayne Duerden.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145120001
ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate Howard Smith, left, with Yvonne Holland and Wayne Duerden.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145120001

CDC washed its hands of the regular monthly event declaring it could not be turned into a success, but the town council and the town’s business association were determined to prove them wrong and in an innovative move, took over the running of the market themselves.

Less than a year after reclaiming Market Square as its home, the monthly farmers’ market has been given a new lease of life and stallholders have flocked back giving it their stamp of approval.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Saturday they filled the square and brought shoppers in to browse the stalls.

ks170101-4 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Robin Locke with his homemade cakes and pies.ks170101-4 SUS-170227-145205001ks170101-4 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Robin Locke with his homemade cakes and pies.ks170101-4 SUS-170227-145205001
ks170101-4 Mid Pet Market phot kate Robin Locke with his homemade cakes and pies.ks170101-4 SUS-170227-145205001

And at their last town council meeting chairman of the finance committee Alan Copus reported to fellow members a healthy bank balance for the market with all stallholders paid up to date and enough funds for the market to employ someone to take on the setting up of the monthly event.

After months of planning and negotiations with the remaining few loyal stallholders, the new-look council run farmers market on its new site, was launched on St George’s Day, April 23, last year.

There were 19 stallholders at that first town council venture compared with the ten that had hung on at the dwindling market in the months leading up to CDC’s shock announcement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Michael Peet, who led the town council’s farmers’ market working group said it was an instant hit.

ks170101-3 Mid Pet Market phot kate
A busy market stall in Petworth.ks170101-3 SUS-170227-145149001ks170101-3 Mid Pet Market phot kate
A busy market stall in Petworth.ks170101-3 SUS-170227-145149001
ks170101-3 Mid Pet Market phot kate A busy market stall in Petworth.ks170101-3 SUS-170227-145149001

Stallholders reported their best trading day ever on that first Saturday,” he said, “and it was very encouraging that streams of visitors poured into the new style market.”

With that initial encouragement he set his sights on a regular market of some 25 stallholders to build on the success.

The town council has now even added a ‘flea market’ to run alongside the farmer’s market which made its debut on Saturday in the Leconfield Hall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chichester District Council announced it was axing the market shortly before Christmas in 2015 despite months of negotiations with the town council. Town councillors urged CDC to try moving it to Market Square, but their plea fell on deaf ears with CDC declaring this option was ‘not viable’.

ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Paul Toni from Nut Knowle Farm offering samples of goats cheese to customers.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145135001ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Paul Toni from Nut Knowle Farm offering samples of goats cheese to customers.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145135001
ks170101-1 Mid Pet Market phot kate Paul Toni from Nut Knowle Farm offering samples of goats cheese to customers.ks170101-1 SUS-170227-145135001

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
ks170101-5 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Stall holder Alan Waters selling charcoalks170101-5 Mid Pet Market phot kate
Stall holder Alan Waters selling charcoal
ks170101-5 Mid Pet Market phot kate Stall holder Alan Waters selling charcoal

3) Follow us on Twitter @mid_pet_obs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Midhurst and Petworth Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.