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25 August 2008
Mayor Michael O'Regan
22 Assumption Place
Clonakilty
Dear Michael
The committee of Sustainable Clonakilty would like to register its support for the proposed Friday outdoor market for Clonakilty. Re-establishment of a vibrant market is essential for Clonakilty to:
• Uphold its reputation as a food tourist destination
• Keep local money in the local economy
• Attract tourists and their associated spending to other businesses in the town
• Support new local food producers who use the market for product trials and in the early stages of development, to avoid the high start–up costs of working through wholesalers
• Enable customers to discuss food production methods directly with the producers.
The Thursday Clonakilty Market began on 2 August 2001. In 2002/3, a survey presented to the Town Council (copy attached) of 95 Clonakilty Thursday market visitors, 51% of people stated that they came to town that day specifically for the market. Nearly half of the respondents came from outside Clonakilty and its environs. Two thirds of the respondents were regular visitors to the market. Eighty seven percent (87%) of them also made purchases from other shops most notably from supermarkets, grocery stores, newsagents, pubs, restaurants and cafes. Ninety seven percent (97%) of respondents considered the market to be a good, very good or excellent tourist attraction. Unfortunately, a less than ideal venue and the advent of the Mahon Point Thursday market led to the market’s change of venue and a dramatically reduced number of food stalls.
However, the data contained in the survey are just as relevant today and demonstrate that an outdoor market fills a special niche that is not competitive with, but complementary to local retailing, and definitely attracts shoppers to Clonakilty. A town retailer at the Market Meeting on 19th August 2008 supported this, stating that his food business takings were up 60% on Friday August 8th 2008, due to the presence of the market.
We would urge the Clonakilty Town Council to support the regeneration of a market in the car parking area adjacent to the Credit Union as it is an ideal location and will provide a much needed social, open-space, heart to the town.
In addition it would meet the Guidelines issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for Local Authorities for the carrying out of their Functions under the Casual Trading Act 1995 under clauses 10 and 17 quoted below.
‘Clause 10. General Principles of Casual Trading:
Local authorities should acknowledge that casual trading makes a valuable contribution to local economies. The Act requires that they regulate this activity and this should be done in good faith. As a general rule if casual trading has been carried on in a town or other location in the past there should be a presumption that it should carry on into the future.
Local authorities should actively promote casual trading as it contributes to the economic benefit of consumers.
Local authorities in formulating their policy and bye laws on casual trading should actively consult casual traders (i. e. not just rely on the process in section 6 of the Act). The idea behind this guideline is that local authorities should not merely rely on notices in the newspapers. Existing traders should be contacted, as should traders interests groups. In other words the local authority should endeavour to go beyond the strict legal requirement in Section 6 (6) (a) of the Act.’
‘Clause 17. Location of Designated Casual Trading Areas
Casual trading has existed in Ireland since time immemorial. The trading usually takes place in the oldest part of the town or city and as well as providing products to the consumer the traders also create an ambiance.’
In summary, it would seem that everyone will benefit if the market is allowed to continue.
Yours etc.
