SPECIALIST markets showcasing local food, drink and arts and crafts could bring thousands of shoppers flocking to Frodsham every weekend.
Every Thursday the pavements on Main Street in Frodsham are filled with bargain hunters and food lovers as dozens of stalls selling food, drink and clothes trade at the popular traditional weekly market.
Now, decades after the market began, The Chronicle can reveal that Frodsham leaders hope to boost the market town’s economy by enticing thousands of tourists and shoppers to spend and stay on the high street by creating a series of specialist weekend markets – which will run every week.
CWaC councillor for Frodsham Cllr Lynn Riley hopes that the ‘market vision’ will put Frodsham back on the shopping map by rubber stamping the town as one of the ‘best market towns in the county’.
If given the green light the market initiative – which is part of Frodsham Foundation’s action plan to win the £100,000 Portas bid – could see farmers and artisan markets showcasing local produce filling the streets of the town every Saturday afternoon.
"The Thursday market is really well known, but most of the locals stay away from the town when it is on because it is hard to park because so many people come in to look at the stalls," said Cllr Riley, who added that Frodsham is often quiet on a Saturday due to residents travelling further afield to do their shopping.
"Saturday afternoons are not very busy in Frodsham. We could have afternoon farmers’ markets and even an arts and crafts market in conjunction with Castle Parks Art Gallery to showcase local businesses and local talent.
"We are trying to keep people coming back to Frodsham to offer something different and unique and specialist. We need to give people something which will stick in their minds and capture their imagination and that people will travel to and keep coming back week after week."
As well as the additional markets Cllr Riley said that local entrepreneurs and market managers would be working with high school students and budding business owners so that they could set up their own stalls and kick start their business dreams.
"Many successful businesses start up from market stalls and that is something we should be encouraging," said Cllr Riley. "There is nothing that any other town can do that we cannot do as well and do it successfully."
