THE Stourbridge public are being asked whether they would support a weekly street market in the town centre.

LSD Promotions, which has been operating its specialist markets from the town since 1989, is proposing to apply for a licence to hold a trial market on Thursdays from April to December.

The company currently holds small monthly stalls outside the Ryemarket Shopping Centre, as well as running street shops at the annual Christmas lights switch-on, but after organising a number of large-scale events across the midlands, bosses want to expand to a weekly event.

 

The proposals would be for the stalls to be spread out along the High Street and into Market Street, meaning the roads would be closed to traffic on market day, which Dermot McGillicuddy, an LSD director, said would create “an atmospheric shopping environment and space” for shoppers to circulate safely.

Mr McGillicuddy said: “We believe Stourbridge would greatly benefit from a regular good quality and varied street market.

“We provide markets across the West Midlands, and being a Stourbridge company, we obviously want to showcase the markets in our home town.

“But before we do anything else, we want to know what the town centre businesses think of our plans, and the feelings of the public.

“During the next week, we are going around to each of the businesses inside the ring road and getting them to fill in a simple survey which asks do you want a market. The answers are yes, no or don’t know.

“We are also going to be set up outside the Ryemarket from Saturday asking the public and the town centre shoppers the same question.

“There is no point in us saying we are going to do this, that and the other if we don’t have any support.”

The company has chosen Thursday to hold its market as it was traditionally the half-day closing and considered by many businesses to be the quietest trading day.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “Although we haven’t had any formal approach for a market in Stourbridge, of course we are happy to consider all retail proposals which bring people into our town centres.

“We work hard to make sure there are lots of activities and events at all of our town centres to keep them thriving for the people who work and shop in them.”

As part of LSD’s consultation, a section for comments will be included in the survey forms, while the forms are also available to download from the LSD website - by clicking here - and comments can also be posted on the company’s Facebook page.

Mr McGillicuddy added: “We believe and are confident that we can create a vibrant and highly successful market which will quickly become a valuable attraction and footfall driver for the town.”

What do you think about a weekly street market in Stourbridge town centre? Let us know in the comment box below, vote in our poll, or email dan.sharp@stourbridgenews.co.uk