Knaresborough farmers market cancelled

The farmers market will not return to Knaresborough after a huge drop in sales, the Town Council has said.

Councillors say the news is disappointing.

Town Coun James Monaghan said: “I am disappointed, but not surprised this has happened.

“I see very few people using the farmers market when I attend. I hope that the Town Council can look at ways to relaunch the farmers market at a time and location where it will be successful and bring people into the town.”

The announcement was made last week and a spokesperson for Knaresborough Town Council: “The Town Council is sorry to report that the organisation who run our monthly Farmers Market have decided to cease the Knaresborough Farmers Market with immediate effect.

“The decision was made by the organisers following a meeting with their directors, at which they reported that the market has been struggling for a while. Many stall holders have reported poor attendance and a drop in sales.”

Coun Ivor Fox (Con, Knaresborough) said more needs to be done to try and keep the market going.

He said: “We should try furtherfurther rejuvenationrejuvenation for the farmers market to attract more people.

“Once we lose these things it is far more difficult to get them back, we have to do everything to keep it going.

“There must be more that can be done, have the organisers asked for help?

“It seems a real shame when farmers markets in Otley and Ilkley are so popular and well attended. Maybe we need to look beyond just farming, horticulture is very popular in the area, maybe a combination of the two would go down well?”

Steve Teggin, chairman of Knaresborough’s Chamber of Trade said: “We are very saddened to hear this as Knaresborough is a market town, though we have noticed the decline in recent years.”

Knaresborough’s traditional market takes place every Wednesday in the Market Place from 8.30am until 4pm. It is run by Harrogate Borough Council and features fruit and vegetable stalls, cheeses, sweets, health foods and plants and flowers.

Did you shop at the farmers market? Why did the farmers market fail in Knaresborough when they are so popular in other towns?

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