District Council finds new home for Stalham Market

Stalham Market has a new home, after North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) agreed to host it on its High Street car park every Tuesday.

The weekly market had been under threat as its old Saleground site is subject to a planning application by supermarket Tesco, but it will now continue on the 100-space 'overflow' part of the District Council's car park. The rest of the car park will be accessible as normal on market days.

Outline planning permission for a supermarket development on the Saleground was granted in December 1999, and that permission included a provision allowing part of NNDC's car park to be used by the weekly market.

The first Tuesday market on the new 2500m² site took place this week, and NNDC Head of Property and Valuation, Geoff Kidd, said it was a "full house".

He added: "All the traders I spoke to said it was a good start."

The move is being undertaken on a pilot basis, so the demand from traders can be gauged. Pitches are being offered for free for the first two weeks.

Stalham District Councillor Mike Cullingham said: "I'm delighted that North Norfolk District Council has been able to step in to save this well-loved market. It has been going since time immemorial, and it would have been sad - and bad for the town - to have lost it.

"In fact, finding a new home for the market was an essential part of Stalham's regeneration."