From the Echo…
Rayleigh?s weekly market could be moved to the town?s High Street in a bid to bolster flagging business.
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Rayleigh Town Council has just signed a deal with Rochford Council to take over management of the market from Friday.
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Bosses said they believed the switch was essential to boosting passing trade for stall owners.
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The market has been based in the car park by the Civic Centre, in Hockley Road, every Wednesday morning for more than 30 years.
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Margaret Spencer, chairwoman of the town council, said: ?Like many street markets, Rayleigh?s has declined in recent years and it has not helped being in a car park off the main road.
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?The town council has been asking for the market to be relocated to the High Street for many years. We are pleased we have an opportunity to try to make this happen. ….
……Councillors are in negotiations with Essex County Council to move the stalls to the taxi rank in the High Street. A decision will be made by the end of the summer.
It will be interesting to see the reaction of the taxi drivers…..
Taxi drivers may actual be in favour if this leads to more potential customers. After all how many people/ fares can be had from the current market site? Not everyone is agaianst change if it can be seen to be beneficial.
The Chair of the Environment Comm and the Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council have been in talks with the taxi drivers about this. Moving the market to the lagoon area will potentially generate more business and the taxi drivers are not against such a move. But details need to be sorted out.
Lets see been in the same place since 1225 ( E Lane book) or Granted by Henry II in 1181 (http://www.rochford.gov.uk/leisure_and_tourism/events_and_attractions/markets.aspx) For someone to propose closing the market/ moving it not as easy as suggested – if formed by Royal Assent – needs Royal Assent (or at least Parlementary Approval to close.
What peopel may not be aware is that in it’s current position the rules of Market Overt apply and anyone buying goods in the market gains legal title – if the market moves, changes times or dates this will not apply.