Last updated 12:06, Friday, 13 June 2008

Vanessa Ashurst of Whitehaven Market makes a plea on behalf of traders

• View more pictures...

WHITEHAVEN has been a market town since 1654 and to lose the market would have a huge effect on the town. It is very difficult for any trader in the uncertain times we find ourselves in at present.

It is evident people want to see a thriving town and a lot of behind the scenes activity is going on to try and help pull the town back.

Some of Whitehaven Market Traders like Johnny Ramzan – also known as Aunty Mary – who sells ladies fashions have been on the markets since the 1970s.

Graeme Thorpe, who sells men’s clothing, has been trading on Whitehaven Market over 30 years.

John Mossop who runs the childrens roundabout ride on a Saturday has been on the markets since 1982 and he used to set up all the market stalls in the mornings and collect the rent. He still makes the market stalls from his yard on Preston Street. And John still runs his kiddies ride every Saturday. People who went on his ride as children now bring their own children down on a Saturday.

The traders feel it is a shame our town is not as busy as it used to be but feel we can bring that hustle and bustle back if we try.

Michael Walker has been on the market since he was a lad and in fact started on the markets working with his mum then went on to set up on his own selling handbags.

John Cooke has been selling his materials on the market just as long.

Shaun Hughes sells his fresh meat on Whitehaven market on a Thursday and Saturday and travels all the way from Morecambe. He is supported well by the locals but business is definitely slower than past years.

Robert Townsley sells his fresh fish in Whitehaven on a Thursday and Egremont market on a Friday and is still holding in there. He finds a huge difference in the way people shop over the many years he has been trading.

Steven Schofield has been on the markets since the early 80s selling children’s clothes and still does both Whitehaven Markets and Egremont Market on a Friday.

David Johnstone’s underwear stall has been a regular sight on a Saturday outside the Golden Lion for many years now.

This area of the market is regularly used by people as a meeting point.

Market traders are one of the toughest breed around and they stand their ground come hail or shine but times are becoming increasingly harder.

We do have a good variety of stalls on Whitehaven Market and Egremont Market.

Cleator Moor used to have a thriving market but has dwindled down to just one stall run by Masons Meats. This will hopefully be rectified over the next couple of months as we are hoping to bring new traders to Cleator Moor to try and bring people into their local town.

Just take a walk down the market the next time you are in town, the town needs all our support and it would be a shame to lose something so historic because of lack of support.

We at the council are working closely with the local shop keepers and some very interesting and exciting things are in the pipeline for the summer especially.

Martin Gerrish from the Tenth Bull gift shop which is located at the top end of the market place is working very hard to bring people together and hopes to have some news on up and coming events soon.

We had some children from Bransty School helping to clean up the town as part of the Whitehaven in Bloom they had fun being out of school for the morning and did a fantastic job on the Market Place.

I feel the market is the way forward for our shopping needs as the shop prices are soaring market traders keep a competitive price on their goods.

We need some new traders and if anyone is thinking of setting up as a market trader then they should give us a call, we need variety and have space on Whitehaven and Cleator Moor markets at present. We cannot take traders selling the same goods as we already have though. We have found that people who may have had a business in the past coming to market trading as they overheads are limited.

If you are interested in becoming a Market Trader please call Vanessa on 07793 177421 or Julie on 01946 593035 or Lynne 01946 593034.