Massive boost for food producers as Wednesday Market grows

Residents in the Beverley area will soon have the opportunity to buy a larger range of local produce after plans to enhance and extend the Wednesday Market were announced.

In addition to the regular weekly Wednesday Market stalls, this enhanced monthly feature will showcase stalls offering the best in locally produced food and drink from across East Yorkshire.

The pilot project, run by Beverley Town Council and aimed at revitalising the high street, is all set to take off in the town in the very near future.

The initiative, which has successfully acquired £10,000 from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s High Street Fund, together with £5,000 matched funding from Beverley Town Council’s From Field to Table project, will see the market extended over a period of six months.

The High Street Fund grant offer is on the agenda for final signatures at Beverley Town Council’s Policy committee meeting on Monday 2 February, and work to organise the enhanced market will begin shortly after.

Beverley Town Council will be working in partnership with Beverley Minster, Beverley FM Radio and East Yorkshire Local Food Network (EYLFN) to deliver the project.

Mayor of Beverley Councillor Paul McGrath said: 'This pilot project looks to build on the success of Beverley Town Council’s other local produce events which have proved so popular, including Beverley Food Festival, Christmas Festival of Food & Drink and the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) Open Allotments day.

'In creating this enhanced Wednesday market once a month, we are aiming to make good use of an area that has been in decline in recent year. We aim to increase footfall and improve connectivity throughout the whole town of Beverley and the main objective is to reignite the high street and keep the town vibrant.'

Continuing, Cllr McGrath said: 'Beverley Town Council is delighted to have been offered grant funding from the High Street Fund, and to be working in partnership to deliver this pilot project. This extended market will allow us to establish the demand for such markets, for both producers and customers, and if it’s viable, we may look to make this a sustainable event.

'We are always looking at ways to support local businesses and also encourage residents and tourists to visit and enjoy all that Beverley has to offer. We hope that this monthly local produce market will do just that.'

26/01/2015