Following the recent change to Government guidance, Wiltshire Council’s street markets will be open from Monday 1 June with stallholders now able to sell their full range of goods.
This means that the market in Melksham will return on 2nd June. Melksham Councillor Jon Hubbard commented, "I am delighted that the full market in Melksham is returning. Many people have missed having the full market in the town and I hope we will see more people frequent it now, and we will also be able to attract more stall-holders to our town.
"I'm also looking forward to us being able to restart the popular Melksham Makers Market and look forward to this event re-establishing itself as a key event in the town's Market Place."
When Government COVID-19 restrictions were introduced, market stalls were only able to sell food, but now they can sell all items again.
Social distancing will be in place at each of the markets, and the public are strongly urged to take notice of the signage at each site and ensure they do everything they can to adhere to the measures and keep at least two meters apart from each other and the stallholders at all times.
To keep stallholders and the public as safe as possible a socially distancing queuing system will be in place at each market for each stall. Stallholders will be regularly using hand sanitiser, and cleaning where appropriate, and people are also encouraged to pay via contactless where they can and when it’s available, and should not unnecessarily pick up items and put them back.
A number of stall holders have laid their stalls out differently to have a dedicated entrance and exit and operate a one way system and all have been advised to follow government guidelines around hygiene, regular hand washing and sanitising.
Council officers will be on site to manage set-up and ensure stalls are socially distanced, and arrangements are in place at each stall for a socially distanced queue system
Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Bridget Wayman said: “We’re pleased that our street markets are returning to some sort of normality and that people can again buy the best that Wiltshire has to offer.
“Safety is paramount and we politely urge that in order for people to keep themselves and our stallholders as safe as possible they follow social distancing and take notice of the on-site signage and measures in place. The shopping experience will obviously be a little different but people will hopefully get used to it quickly and still enjoy visiting the markets.”
The operating times of the street markets are below, but depending on the day’s trade, some stallholders may decide to close a little earlier:
Tuesday
Melksham, Market Place from 9am-2pm
Wednesday
Amesbury, Salisbury Street from 9am-2pm
Marlborough High Street from 9am-3pm
Trowbridge Fore Street from 9am- 2pm
Thursday
Bradford on Avon, Bridget Street car park from 9am-1:30pm
Wilton, Market Place from 9am-1:30pm
Friday
Calne, Phelps Parade, from 9am-2pm
Warminster, adjacent to the library in Central Car Park from 9am-1:30pm
Saturday
Marlborough, High Street from 9am-3pm
Corsham market would normally take place on a Tuesday but there are currently no stallholders confirmed for next week but it is hoped it will be back soon.
More information, including FAQs can be found at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community-environment-street-markets
