Social distancing measures have 'killed off' historic market in Milton Keynes town

The closure in Bletchley's Queensway is due to MK Council's new and temporary social distancing measures designed to keep shoppers safe. See Citizen story here.

But a by-product of these measures hasbeen a marked reduction in market traders, who are choosing not to turn up because they can no longer park their vans next to their pitch.

On at least one day last week there were no stalls at all on the once-thriving market, which ran down much of the length of Queensway before lockdown.

One trader, a children's clothing stall, has boycotted the traditional area totally and has set up stall in the car park of Bletchley Conservative club instead.

"Conservatives who are in the party of supporting businesses have encouraged us to come to their car park every Tuesday," said the stall's owner.

"The only reason we have moved is that we need our van next to our stall." she added.

Under the new rules, market traders can bring their van into the no traffic area early in the morning to unload stock and then drive in again at the end of the day to load it again. But in the meantime they must park in one of the town's car parks.

Meanwhile some traders, who have struggled to survive during lockdown, are still objecting to new rules made by Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council that pitch fees must be paid in advance and online.

A spokesman for the town Council told the Citizen: "A host of temporary measures have been introduced in a matter of weeks as part of Milton Keynes Council’s efforts to re-open high streets across the borough during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. These include the closure of a section of the road from Oxford Street to Cambridge Street, the removal of planters, and the shifting of market stalls."

She added: "Pitches allocated for market traders have been relocated in response to measures implemented by

Milton Keynes Council to make Queensway safe and to promote social distancing during the

COVID19 pandemic.

"A hard road closure area is being maintained as a pedestrian area and market traders will continue

to be located in this space for the time being. An electric barrier has been installed to ensure the

safety of traders and members of the public when vehicles enter and leave the site either to set up

their stalls at the beginning of the day or to pack up at the end of trading. The only vehicles allowed

to remain in the pedestrian area throughout the trading period are food traders who work from

their mobile food vehicles. Other traders will be required to move and are provided with a parking

permit to enable them to park without charge elsewhere."

The spokesman said the changes were made to "keep the community safe" and were negotiated with the Highways Authority, which is responsible for road safety.

She added: "Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council has not increased pitch prices for market traders and

they have recently been reduced for most traders. Payment must now be made on line in advance. All our market charges are publicly available on our website.

"Unfortunately, the number of market traders had reduced before lockdown began and several regular traders have been unable to return at this time. Since the relocation and easing of lockdown, there has been new interest however and we welcome new market traders."

The town council is keen to prevent the demise of the market, which has been a feature of Bletchley for decades. At a meeting next week they will consider different ways to develop the market in the future.