The market needs Aylesbury locals to succeed say traders
Wycombe Market is 'beyond saving' according to some Councillors.
Buckinghamshire Council has over £4 million in funding to redevelop the town centre in Aylesbury.
A review of the market and High Street in High Wycombe found that 79% of people said the market was 'important' to them.
However the majority of the 1,126 people who responded to the Quaterbridge survey said the big shops or a bar/restaurant are the reasons they visit the town centre.
During a High Wycombe Town Committee meeting, on Tuesday, September 22, Labour Cllr Rafiq Raja said the council is, “trying to recreate something, but the world has changed”.
He added:
“Would somebody like to tell me – what exactly would you go to the high street for?
“The only reason I go is to the bank or to walk through to Eden. There’s really no other reason for anyone to go into the high street to buy anything of use.
“What exactly are we offering people? Our survey says people want to have the facility but only if there’s something useful to buy.”
“Quite frankly, I think it might be beyond us to recreate the 60s and 70s when people needed to go to the high street.”
He recommended allocating half the high street for trade and the other half for public events to drum up interest.
Following this, we spoke to Aylesbury market traders about whether the same is true for this area.
One said despite Covid the locals are still coming out:
"Aylesbury Market is really doing great, they Buckinghamshire Counil look after us the traders.
"They've even supplied the tables and chairs for our customers to sit and eat their food, that has really improved out taking and people coming into the market.
"We've seen more customers coming in even with the effects of Covid they're still turning up to the market and our relationship is great and we have to thank the customers for that."
One trader agreed with Cllr Rafiq Raja:
"I think local people do appreciate it but I think some don't want to come to down for various reasons.
"More people could use it but people think markets are old fashioned now-a-days.
"I don't know what more the council could do, they do look after the traders. I don't think more can be done except people coming to support the market otherwise the market will go."
Buckinghamshire Council has £4.5 million in funding to redevelop Market Square and Kingsbury Square, with consultations currently going on with locals about what they want.
One trader said if the market is to survive variation is needed:
"The problem we have in Aylesbury is there is too much choice for supermarkets, people would rather go out of town than use the town centre and the market especially.
"I think more diverse traders, not just food stalls some clothes and other items for more choice.
"I think if there were more diversity more people would use it, or stop and look at least."