St Neots Market veterans said the multi-million-pound revamp has helped the market’s future but urged Huntingdonshire District Council to harness social media to attract customers
Traders have urged Huntingdonshire District Council to better advertise market days as they fight to adapt to changing shopping trends. St Neots Market, held every Thursday in the Market Square, was taken over by Huntingdonshire District Council in November.
It followed a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the square which was closed for over a year while works were carried out. Phil Anderson has been trading at St Neots for around 20 years, and said the market has improved since the council took it over.
The 70-year-old said: “The improvements have been very good, footfall has increased dramatically which is surprising considering the town is losing its shops rapidly. It normally drops when the kids go on holiday but it hasn’t been too bad.”
Richard McCann first set up on the market square about five months ago but before that was trading in other markets across the country. The 62-year-old said the market could be advertised better on social media.
He said: “I think it does help – I do a pub car park in Bournemouth and I’m mobbed, they’re quite good on social media.”
One trader, who did not want to be named, said that trade is tough but it’s “nothing to do with the council”.
He said: “Shops and banks are closing – we bounce off the shops and they bounce off us. All the rates, national insurance, it’s ridiculous.”
Emma, who did not give her surname, said that free parking could help to attract customers to the market square. She said: “There’s no free parking here at all – if they made the first hour free I think that would help.”
Mathew Thornton was a trader at Huntingdon market when he was told a spot was available at St Neots and decided to give it a go. The 46-year-old said: “The weather is unbearable but the footfall is just the same for me.”
Jimmy Singh has been trading at the market for 38 years and said he’s seen a “hell of a lot of change” with “not even a quarter” of traders left. The 72-year-old said: “We need more traders in the market – we have seven stalls and it’s not enough. It used to be in a big square like this, you would have more than 60 traders.”
Paul Firman, the market’s “longest serving green grocer”, said the council does what they can to help but markets everywhere are struggling. The 66-year-old said: “They don’t do a bad job but the market has changed since Covid – people’s shopping habits have changed.
“What can be done – what can be done about the high street? They aren’t doing a bad job – the rent is reasonable and they look after you. It’s a shame the way things are going but it’s the same with pubs – this country is built on small businesses. When I first came here 38 years ago there were five green grocers and the market was absolutely buzzing, but so was every market.”
He also said the council could advertise Thursday’s market better – like they do for the farmer’s market, held twice a month.
Huntingdonshire District Council have been approached for comment.
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