Chesterfield council urges shoppers to use historic market amid concerns of falling visitor numbers

Chesterfield Borough Council recently revealed that, like many other local authorities, it is facing serious funding gaps on its budgets due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis and exceptionally high inflation rates.

The Local Authority’s Budget Strategy Report has, however, set out the council’s strategic approach to meeting budget shortfalls which currently stand at £2.5m in 2024/25, rising to £3.4m in 2026/27, and in the meantime it aims to continue supporting Chesterfield’s famous town centre market, in Market Place.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Chesterfield Market is at the heart of our town centre and, like us, people are rightly passionate about making sure it thrives for years to come.

“There have been significant challenges, including the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the growth of online shopping, which have all had an impact upon the market and the town centre as a whole.

“We are committed to investing in the future of our town centre, to ensure it can thrive for years to come and has first class facilities for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Concerns for Chesterfield Market were heightened after a ‘Save Our Market’ banner was recently spotted displayed across a market stall.

A Derbyshire Times’ Facebook reader, John Hampshire, said he was aware of a market stall holder who felt trading had become more difficult due to a shorfall in the number of visitors, although the Thursday flea market is still well-occupied.

Mr Hampshire alse fears a change in people’s shopping habits are affecting the market because more people are choosing to shop online.

He stated: “We all know why the town’s lacking footfall, yes, shop closures and for those that don’t or won’t listen or believe it, the reason why is a change in people’s attitudes [about] how they shop.

“Like the decline of the corner shop that happened when the first supermarkets arrived in the UK, now the towns and cities are dying because we can’t be a***d to shop. We would rather order our groceries online and have them delivered.”

Mr Hampshire added that he feels Primark has affected the market’s clothes stalls and that the council is not to blame for the empty shops.

Fellow Derbyshire Times Facebook reader, Pixe Nicholson, stated that ‘stall rents and extreme parking charges’ are also affecting Chesterfield Market due to ‘council cutbacks’.

Another concerned Derbyshire Times Facebook reader added that if the market and the shops are to stay open and keep going, people need to keep using them but Amazon deliveries, Meadowhall shopping centre and larger, nearby cities are taking away the revenue.

Derbyshire Times Facebook reader Hilly Winson stated Chesterfield Market needs encouragement to be ‘larger again’, and reader Sue Marples said the old Christmas Market Day was brilliant.

Despite concerns, Chesterfield Market still boasts some successful events in between normal trading, including the 1940s market which is returning to Chesterfield, on Thursday, November 2, with free entertainment during the half-term break.

There is also the Chesterfield Market Cafe inside the town’s nearby, iconic Market Hall, and during the summer the market hosted a special flower-themed market to celebrate its entry into the East Midlands In Bloom competition.

Market Place continues to host a variety of markets throughout the year from regular weekly general markets, to speciality events including the medieval fun-day, the peddler markets and the young persons’ markets.

Other attractions include the Artisan Market, the pending Christmas Lights Switch-on, a Flea Market, a Record Fair and a Vegan Market.

Chesterfield’s historic Market Hall, in Market Place, also underwent a relaunch in 2013 after a multi-million pound revamp and a further multi-million pound investment is planned to revitalise the historic market grounds with additional space alongside the traditional markets to host outdoor events, speciality markets and entertainment.

As part of the latest revamp, Market Square will remain home to Chesterfield’s permanent market and New Square will be providing temporary stalls on busier market days.

Up-and-coming events include the 1940s Market, on November 2, and the Christmas Lights switch-on from Sunday, November 19.

Cllr Sarvent added: “Next year we will begin delivery of our multi-million pound Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project. At the centre of this is our plans for the market, which after a significant consultation and engagement programme with traders and their representative body, will create a vibrant town centre experience with improved accessibility and additional space, which alongside our traditional markets will enhance our ability to host outdoor events, speciality markets and entertainment.

“Recently the Government have also announced an additional £20 million of funding through its long term plan for towns. We look forward to working with community leaders, businesspeople and representatives of other local bodies, to develop a plan for how this funding can be used to further enhance our town centre and encourage more people to visit.

“We believe the town centre has a bright future and will continue to be an attractive place to work, live, visit and shop but we need our residents to support these businesses and traders to ensure that they can continue to thrive in our town centre.”