Audlem lose Floating Market

COMPLETE lack of support for the Roving Canal Traders Association's (RCTA) August Bank Holiday floating market by Audlem Parish Council and its land based businesses has resulted in it now being moved to Market Drayton, where it has been welcomed.

RCTA's Finance Officer, Louise Moore, told narrowboatworld:

"The RCTA has made the decision because the whole idea of the Markets is to help promote Roving Traders, the canals and to bring a benefit to the local area. We feel that with such a negative response from Audlem, it's best that we move to another location which we are organising with Canal & River Trust. It will hopefully be at Market Drayton on the same weekend of the August Bank Holiday."

Overstaying

The issue of Canal Roving Traders trading in Audlem is a long standing one, with an issue with trading boats overstaying on the 24 hours moorings, particularly between locks 12 and 13 on the Shropshire Union Canal, thus taking up mooring space for visiting boats with a subsequent loss to local businesses.

It has been clearly shown that visiting boaters patronise the businesses in Audlem and are welcome, but businesses object to the roving traders as they sell similar products. The then British Waterways launched a consultation in 2012, pointing out that the presence of roving traders can enhance the attractiveness of Audlem, and asked for local input.

In favour

The outcome of the then published report showed in favour of roving traders and that the enforcement officers had the matter under control, making sure there were moorings available for the many visiting boats to take advantage of the village's pubs, shops and facilities. See Report.

However, just as the Association was getting organised for this year's event, the council once again raised the issue by contacting CaRT to look into the trading matter again, with Louise explaining:

"As Roving Traders have to abide by the mooring rules of any area, and at Audlem visitor moorings it is 24 or 48 hours and no more than 28 days a year in any one place, we fail to see how that can be detrimental to any land based business. We have traders that sell many products, crafts and specialised foods. Often products that are not available anywhere else.

"The first Market of the year was at Alvecote on the Coventry Canal and we estimate we attracted 1000+ people to the Market and the canal. The owner of The Samuel Barlow did a roaring trade and was so pleased that before the Market had ended he had booked us for May Day 2015."

Not allowed to advertise

It has been stipulated that the Association must remove any mention of Audlem Council and businesses Mill from any advertising.

The Association feels that it cannot proceed without the support of the local council and its businesses, it having a negative effect on the whole event, and have taken it as the Floating Market is not wanted.

It has therefore made the decision to move the August Bank Holiday Floating Market to Market Drayton, that will be held on the  22nd to 25th August.  With its many followers this will indeed by a gain for Market Drayton and a loss of spending visitors to Audlem.