At a meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee, new figures revealed that the St Albans Charter Market continues to grow as the number of occupied pitches increases sharply.
From June to September 2023, the average number of traders working at the weekly Wednesday markets was up 22 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The number of occupied pitches rose by 37 per cent, with many traders operating from two or more pitches. At the weekly Saturday markets, the number of traders was up 16 per cent and the number of pitches they occupied was up 26 per cent.
Councillor Chris White, Leader of St Albans City and District Council and chair of the committee, said: “I am delighted to see that our markets are thriving and showing substantial growth. “My thanks go to the market traders and our own markets team for all their hard work in revitalising this priceless service after the pandemic. “We will continue with these efforts to ensure we have a market to be proud of at the very heart of St Albans.”
Still a shadow of its former self though. Nothing like the market of old. Throughout most of my life the market has been the very heartbeat of St Albans and always so busy, walking down St Peter’s was done at a shuffle due to crowds. This is no longer the case and hasn’t been for a decade at least. Shame on successive councils for ruining one of England’s most historic and successful street markets.
You can jazz it up all you want with figures and percentages, but the fact remains the market was decimated by the council by selling off the land that stored the marquees that had been used for decades without any problems.
Since then the market has been a shadow of its former self and is still not as good as it was 5,10,15,20 years ago.
All down to mismanagement by SADC and the lib dem party.