Makeover on the horizon for Milton Keynes market?

In February, the Citizen revealed traders had lost up to HALF their customers since parking charges were hiked nearby – putting the future of the market in jeopardy.
This week Conservative group leader Edith Bald pledged to restore the market’s standard rate parking and launch a marketing campaign to attract visitors from across the region – including digitalising the market with a new website, social media and a digital 360-tour of the site.

Announcing the plans as part of her election manifesto, Mrs Bald said: “I have become very concerned about the Market. “Many people rely on it for their day to day shopping, especially food and for the traders the Market is their livelihood.”

She added: “Every successful city has a thriving market and that is why I am keen to improve the current state of affairs.

“Making this happen needs strong leadership and collaboration. Doing nothing is not an option in my book. The market has always been important to Milton Keynes and I won’t let this slip away.”

If her party takes full control of MK Council in May, Mrs Bald has pledged to spruce up the market stall structures so they look more attractive for visitors, improve signage in the city centre to direct people to the market and protect the current market offer but broaden the mix of trades, including consideration of a new covered market with an improved food offer and sale of local produce.