BARNARD Castle Farmers’ Market returned to the cobbles last weekend with measures in place designed to ensure the safety of stallholders and shoppers.
he was a stall’s width between traders, bottles of hand sanitiser were placed at regular intervals and volunteers had been recruited to steward the market to ensure safe distancing was observed by customers.
The cool, blustery conditions ensured there was no rush of shoppers, which meant all involved could get used to the measures. A number of stallholders also donned pieces of PPE to further ensure their safety.
Market manager Carol Parker, who runs the Northumberland Cheese stall, said decisions on PPE had been left to individual traders. “It’s whatever people are comfortable with,” she said.
Ms Parker said preparations for the market’s return had been quite difficult. “We had a lot of paperwork and a risk assessment. Once we had done that, planned to double space the stalls and set them back, it was a question of giving it a go.”
She said there was a real appetite among stallholders to get back, although a number were still self-isolating. Given the spacing arrangements, all pitches were taken and Ms Parker said a revised layout may be considered for next month’s market in an effort to create more room for extra stalls.
She said preparations had begun in April so the market was in a position to proceed when Government restrictions were lifted.
But she added: “There was a point when I thought we could be away for months.”
Among those back behind the counter on Saturday was Ian Nixon, whose Spicy Monkey stall has been a regular fixture for the past seven or eight years. He said he had no qualms about taking up his pitch. “I am glad to be back and was keen to get out of the house and see people. It’s great to see some faces again.”
Mr Nixon said he had been worried about what the future might hold, but the online side of his business had kept him busy during the lockdown and a number of shops he supplied had also remained open.
Bishop Auckland-based Breaking Bread was taking part in the farmer’s market for the first time having become a regular fixture at the weekly Wednesday Safety first as farmers’ market returns charter market.
The company’s Phil Elliott said business had ticked over during the lockdown, with deliveries keeping staff busy. But he said it was good to get out and the company plans to be back at today’s (Wednesday) market. “We have kept going. We have a cafe in Bishop Auckland town centre which is being refurbished during this period. We have been driving around making deliveries as we wanted to keep our customers.”
Next month’s farmers’ market is due to take place on Saturday, July 4.
