Trial run of new-look market stalls (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Trial run of new-look market stalls in St Albans

1:20pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Zoe Forsey, Senior Reporter

Shoppers have had a sneak peek of what St Albans market could look like if the council gives the go ahead to a proposal to redesign the stalls.

Six new units, which have plastic skirts around the edge, were set up outside Town Hall on Wednesday (February 27) to show traders and residents the new idea.

The stalls have also been designed so that they are easier to put together and take apart so they can be moved around quicker.

Councillor Dursun Altun, the representative for Verulam, is backing the new market stall design.

The Conservative politician said: "I think it is good. It is refreshing.

"At the moment the market looks very messy. It is quite run down.

"It will make it more welcoming and it will help to clean the city". He also believes that the new stalls will save cash as well as increasing trade in St Albans.

He added: "In the long term it will save money as we won’t need to spend money every month repairing things.

"It will bring in more businesses because a nice clean tidy market will bring in more traders.

"Traders will be able to have better displays for the customers."

This week traders will be able to sell from the new stalls to see what they think.

The market, which is located in St Peters Street is made up of more than 160 stalls.

It is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a farmers market is also run on the second Sunday of each month.

Richard Shwe, head of community services at the council, said: "Supporting the popular market in St Albans city centre is a key priority for the council as it attracts visitors to the city helping to boost the local economy.

"We are planning to initiate a review of our markets in the next month to identify how we can improve the existing market and what potential there is for delivering more diverse markets in St Albans.

"This project is at a very early stage and no decision has been taken to refurbish the market stalls.

"We will be looking at how other successful markets operate and will be consulting with stallholders, visitors and existing retailers about how the market can be developed.

"Prior to embarking on this project, we are carrying out some preliminary work on the cost and feasibility of introducing new-look stalls.

"As part of this initial work, we are trialling six new-look stalls and are seeking stallholders’ views on them."