Sanderson Arcade backs new town centre market project

Sanderson Arcade backs new town centre market project

7 October 2013

The team at the award winning Sanderson Arcade development in Morpeth, Northumberland are working with local authority partners on a brand new town centre market initiative which has just been launched in the town.

The Arcade, owned and managed by Dransfield Properties Ltd, is working with Northumberland County Council as well as the Town Team and Morpeth Town Council on the new Morpeth Market which was successfully launched at the beginning of October.

New market stalls and branding as well as anchor points and a local marketing campaign have been introduced as part of the unique public-private partnership initiative. As well as investing in the markets Sanderson Arcade is also giving management time to help with the running of the weekly market and monthly Farmers' Market.

The new market was launched during a Food and Drink Festival on Saturday October 5th which saw the best footfall figures in the town so far this year -  the star of BBC’s Apprentice, Adam Corbally, joined traders and civic dignitaries at the event.

Declaring the new market open, the Mayor of Morpeth Cllr Joan Tebbutt read from the original market charter which was granted to Roger de Merlay in 1199 for the cost of thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence – allowing the town to hold a weekly market and an annual fair.

Cllr Tebbutt added: “There has been a market held on this spot for all those years and it’s fantastic to see the new market here today.

“We’ve had a number of changes over the years in the town, the Sanderson Arcade development, the brand new supermarket on the edge of the town centre – rather than on the edge of the town itself. And now this fantastic new market, which we really hope will bring many more people into the town and help to keep the town centre viable.”

The new stalls will be used for the town’s weekly market as well as the monthly farmers' market and other community events.

Adam, who started his own working life as a market trader said: ”It really is a breath of fresh air to see an initiative like this and to see everyone working together and realising that High Street shopping isn’t just about one thing or the other, it’s about the whole town coming together and the community working together – making it an ideal place to shop.

“It’s great to be part of a project like this and fantastic to see what has been achieved here in Morpeth.”

Centre Manager at Sanderson Arcade, Medi Parry, said the feedback from Saturday’s market has been extremely positive and footfall counters showed it to be the busiest day so far this year.

She added: “We really need to build on the launch event now. This initiative is something we are delighted to be involved with, retail is all about the experience and theatre and having a great local market is really important to a thriving town centre.”

Pictures show -  Cllr Joan Tebutt The Mayor of Morpeth with Cllr Kath Nisbet, The Civic Head of Northumberland County Council and Adam Corbally and the stalls at Morpeth Market.

Morpeth Market is held every Wednesday and the Farmers' Market takes place on the first Saturday of the month.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk