Brighouse and Elland markets becoming a lifeline for their communities

Since the start of the pandemic, trade footfall at Brighouse Market has increased by 29 per cent and Masterplanning being developed for Brighouse as a whole will further develop the market area, said Calderdale Council’s Markets Manager, John Walker.

Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said Brighouse Market – only recently taken over by the council from private ownership and in need of renovation – was starting to gain ground, its strengths being shown during the pandemic.

“It is brilliant local people can shop and feel safe, it is a really nice meeting area and you have done it very well,” he told Mr Walker at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet Markets Working Party.

Mr Walker said the market area was also being included in discussions for Brighouse Town Board’s Towns Fund bid.

But there would be debate around proposals submitted by designers because the markets team were concerned about proposals which would result in loss of any stalls, he said.

“We could lose potentially ne lock-up which would give us access from the canal towpath but to take 16 units out would be a loss of income to the council,” said Mr Walker.

Eight stalls where traders backed onto the road could be lost because there were some safety concerns, he added, but there would need to be talks with the designers.

Coun Blagbrough said it was important not to lose capacity at the site and Coun Geraldine Carter (Con, Ryburn) agreed that losing 16 stalls would be too much as it would impact on financial viability.

Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) also agreed: “We think our market towns are at the heart of the whole borough, so our markets have to thrive.”

She said it was a case where the idea on paper differed from the lived experience and proposals would need to go back to the drawing board.

Mr Walker said Elland Market was a real success story, which a couple of years ago was recording only two traders.

By comparison, having moved back to its old site at Southgate, it is now full to capacity.

“We have now run out of space to build new stalls and have a waiting list,” said Mr Walker.

Coun Carter said trade at Brighouse had been impressive and Elland Market had been extremely busy and receiving a lot of good comments on social media.

“People have been commenting on what a difference it is making to the community, being able to go there during lockdown periods,” she said.