Fears over future of town's market

The MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood met with concerned traders who told her that more needed to be done to promote the long-established amenity.

And they told Ms Smith they feared the market, on Adelaide Street, could eventually close unless something was done.

Ms Smith said: “The traders were very concerned and share their worries. It needs to be spruced up and promoted much more effectively. The main clock on the wall has stopped and only needs a few new batteries.

“These are just small jobs but they could make a difference. The market traders do not think the market is a very high priority as far as Wyre council is concerned, yet it is a historic feature for the town.”

One trader, who did not wish to be named, said: “We desperately need an extra attraction brought in here to get more customers, better promotion and the place smartening up.”

But a Wyre Council spokeswoman said: “Promotion of the market is undertaken via a mixture of platforms including in print and online to a number of target audiences. We recognise our main target markets being tourists and coach operators and focus our marketing efforts accordingly. We keep traders up to date with marketing activity through a quarterly marketing update and have established the Fleetwood Market Traders Forum which exists as a platform for traders’ views.”