Residents' views sought on open air markets
Residents, businesses, and stall holders in West Oxfordshire are invited to help shape the open-air markets in Chipping Norton and Witney to increase footfall, boost prosperity and enhance the visitor experience.
Cllr Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development, said:
“Our markets are what make our towns special: the clue is in the ‘market towns’ name. We value our existing stallholders very highly and want to support them and new traders to make the markets bigger, better and more successful.
“We have a real opportunity to improve the experience and perception of our markets for residents and visitors. With funding from the Government, we can invest in our open markets and improve the town centre’s retail and service sector.
“Our aim is to commission a commercial market operator to run the weekly retail markets in Witney and Chipping Norton to drive forward improvements to both markets. But we need first to understand the public’s perception of the current markets in the two locations and what they believe will make the make the markets the best they can be. I urge everyone to get involved in our short survey on the markets; only then can we start to implement the improvements you want to see.
"We know that residents value special events like the Christmas Market in Witney last year, and this was reflected in the footfall figures. Our mission is to create a programme of themed markets at Marriotts Walk that complements the offerings of the retail markets, providing residents with a diverse and vibrant shopping experience. This is a collaborative process and so working together with town partnerships and existing stallholders will be crucial to achieving a shared vision.”
The vision for West Oxfordshire, as laid out in the 2023-2027 Council plan, is to build a district with thriving local economies and vibrant town centres. The Council recognises the crucial role its outdoor markets play in this and hopes that by improving its markets and attracting more visitors, it will boost financial growth for town centres, create more job opportunities, and ensure stronger, happier communities.
To take part in the survey please go to https://yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/west-oxfordshire-markets. Your responses will help us understand how we can better serve the community and make the markets an even more enjoyable place to visit.