Trial move planned for March town market

A town’s historic market could have a change of venue if a trial proves successful.

March Town Council heard Fenland District Council is organising a trial that would see the town’s market move from the Market Place to the newly pedestrianised area of Broad Street.

The trial is due to begin shortly and will run for two or three months to see whether or not traders are happy with the idea of relocating permanently.

However, Cllr Jennifer Lawler, a keen local historian, argued the move would be another blow to the town’s heritage.

She said: “I strongly oppose this. This is March conservation area, it is a distinctive part of March’s heritage and we should not have it destroyed.”

Cllr Lawler gave a potted history of the market and said it had been held in the area of the Market Place for over 350 years.

She also raise safety concerns due to the traffic in Broad Street and people “mingling” around stalls.

However, Cllr Jan French explained the idea is to try to attract footfall to both the market and to Broad Street and would likely only be for the Saturday market. It would also free up the Market Place for parking.

She said traders would not be able to park their vans in the pedestrianised area and emphasised it was a trial with the traders having the final say on where they want to be.

Cllr Kim French said that the move was always the “end game” following the regeneration of Broad Street and said it had been discussed at the start of the plans to improve the town centre.