Market Management to Return to Borough Council

In recent years the Surrey Chamber of Commerce has managed the Epsom Market including the Farmers Market, but the arrangement stops on 31st March when management and administration will revert to the borough council.

A grant was made to Surrey Chambers as part of the current arrangements hso the borough council will save about £22,000 which can offset the additional costs it will now have. At a meeting of the Strategy & Resources Committee on 25th January, Lib Dem councillors suggested that this money should go toward paying for a Town Centre Manager.

Combined with their suggestion of zero grant to Surrey Chambers next year, which would free up another £5000, there seemed to be a real possibility of funding such a post, which used to exist until about 10 years ago. These proposals fell on deaf ears, apart from one councillor from the ruling group who thought them a good idea!

Cllr Alison Kelly (Town ward) said "Local businesses want a Town Centre Manager and every partner organisation we discuss the subject with recommends we resurrect this position. There's a very poor interface with local shops and businesses. As well as running the market, a Town Centre Manager could provide a much-needed contact point on matters such as parking, recycling, Christmas decorations and other matters."

The Lib Dems want to build up the market to be the best in Surrey and to make pitches available to small independent traders. "We'd like to get into the position of having a waiting list for pitches in our market because it's so popular and successful" added Cllr Kelly.