Market News

HARLOW FARMERS MARKET

HARLOW FARMERS MARKET CLOSES

AFTER RELOCATING TO "THE WATER GARDENS" SHOPPING CENTRE THE MARKET CLOSES AFTER 5 MONTHS BECAUSE OF COUNCIL ACTION.

Essex Farmers Markets relocated to The Water Gardens from Old Harlow some 5 months ago with a costly advertising campaign.

We felt the need to be back in the Town, after we were forced out of the Market Square by Officers at the Council not understanding our needs or how a market should be run.

While trading at Old Harlow, the longer term future did not fit the needs of our traders.

We were welcomed by the "The Water Gardens" owners and the shops that trade there.

The Council has decided to force on our traders a license fee of £285 each, even though The Water Gardens is under private ownership, but deemed to have a public right of way.

Our traders pay us a fee that covers ground rent to the landlord our advertising and hire of gazebos and a small profit for EFM.

This pending licence fee has put off a good number of traders wanting to come to Harlow from the beginning and weakened the selection and variety of produce on offer.

We have been welcomed by the public for the choice we have brought into the Town.

It is always a sad day if we have to close a market due to lack of public support, but to be forced to close because of a money grabbing excercise by a Council, when clearly there is a demand in a Town Centre by the public is beyond belief.

I would like to thank all the public that has shopped with us at Harlow and the management of The Water Gardens for their help and support.

But until the Council wakes up and sees common sense and removes this license fee we will not be able to trade anywhere in the Harlow district.

Ian Chisholm

Managing Director

Essex Farmers Markets