Proposals for Swindon street markets
It could be held in Wharf Green but the council are hosting a consultation
Plans for a new street market in the town centre have prompted a review of Swindon Borough Council’s policy on street trading.
A regular town centre street market is proposed for Wharf Green later this year, subject to a successful bid to the Government’s Towns Fund.
It is proposed the retail market, with up to 45 stalls, would run on Thursdays and Saturdays, while a Farmers and Fine Food Market would be held on the third Friday of each month.
People are therefore being asked whether the Street Trading Policy is ‘fit for purpose’ and views are specifically being asked on the:
- Designation of streets across the Borough including those identified as ‘under consideration’
- The current restrictions on markets and their locations
- Individual traders being able to trade within the town centre outside of a market which may be during identified times of the year
- The fee structure for Street Trading
The Council’s current Street Trading Policy was first introduced in 2013 and reviews must take place at least every five years. The policy was reviewed in 2018 and adopted in January the following year.
Within Swindon, requests for themed markets or food festivals are becoming increasingly popular.
The Council’s Licensing team, in conjunction with inSwindon BID, aims to encourage and deliver quality markets but says it has become apparent that the current Street Trading Policy may be unnecessarily restrictive in terms of how often markets are held and how long they are open for business.
The Council is particularly keen to hear the views of members of the public, members of the trade, and other organisations before taking a final decision on whether to update the policy.
The results of the consultation will be presented to the Council’s Licensing Committee for consideration on 28 June 2022.
The consultation can be completed online here.