Mr Edwards made a timely remark in last weeks paper “Many local businesses would struggle to survive without visitors to the town.”I wonder how many have stopped to think what is so special about Skipton, Otley, Saltaire, and a host of smaller towns and villages across the South Pennines that folk will travel miles to visit them and once there spend the rest of the day enjoying the shops and scenery?
In the Heritage Strategy for the South Pennines it is noted how Calderdale and Kirklees have a Food Futures Strategy linking local supply with local demand.In other words local markets.Farmers Markets!To quote Pennine Prospects, “The project stimulates demand for local products by raising awareness of the economic, environmental and nutritional benefits of healthy eating and local food production.”
A request went out from the Ilkley and Wharfedale Tourism Partnership asking for ideas to bring visitors back to Ilkley.Something the S.O.S. trio have, which Ilkley does not, but would but for the narrow minded outlook of a few are farmers markets.It is a well documented fact a farmers market has helped in many areas to bring visitors into failing towns and villages.There was a time when every town, village, hamlet even had some form of market aside from those in the main Market Towns.Ilkley being one. Speaking with traders around town I have the impression all without fail looked on a farmers market as something of an asset to the town.When the weather is inclement Ilkley traders soon feel the pinch, especially those who open over the weekend, however a monthly farmers market held on a Sunday, would bring visitors to the town.
It was proved some years ago when a Food Fair was held in the Clarke Folely Centre.I remember the first day well.A howling gale, three inches of snow in the car park, yet seven hundred came through the doors.By the time it finished two years later seven hundred had risen to nearer two and half thousand.A good precedent if ever. Many who came to Ilkley now go to the S.O.S. trio.
If we are to serve the whole community in real terms and not just fancy summer festivals, a monthly Farmers Market will bring visitors to the town, to our traders, and eventually boost the local economy.Something no supermarket chain could ever do.It is worth noting many towns have supermarkets yet that hasn’t stopped them having a regular Farmers Market.Hopefully the prospect of this South Pennine town having a Farmers Market will be nearer than far in the future.
