Chapeltown Market back on track

SATURDAY July 4 may have been Independence Day in the USA, but in Chapeltown the independently owned community market, TRAXX, got off to a flying start.

For almost 10 years, Chapeltown market has been in decline. The Friday market is still hanging on thanks to a couple of traders who have supported the market for a number of years.

As Covid-19 controls changed on Saturday, hair salons and barbers opened and so did the new market.

And with over 2,000 people attending the first weekly Saturday market, it was full steam ahead. The Market Project wants to bring people together to shop, eat and socialize in the heart of the community.

To launch a new market is challenging, but at this difficult time you could think it’s impossible. At the new market social distancing measures have been put in place, in accordance with Government guidelines, with the market stalls now facing inwards.

All stalls have hand sanitizer, a limit of 120 people is in place and lots of signage has been placed around the site as well as a general facelift with new gutters and stall tops, banners and bunting to make the site more appealing.

These changes have given the market a facelift and have been welcomed by market traders and their customers.

Everyone agrees this change has improved the look and feel of the market but also helped everyone to observe the social distancing guidelines to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

Many small towns have lost their markets but Chapelgreen Community Enterprise wants to breathe new life into the Chapeltown area, constantly thinking of ways to encourage people to support its traders and keep the town centre vibrant and welcoming.

It certainly seemed to work on Saturday with a great variety of stalls, from fresh breads and pastry, to Silicilian food and jewellery. You could even get a birthday cake for your four legged friends at The Greedy Dog Co.

The new Saturday market has been planned right up to December with a Christmas Market that is taking bookings already. Friday continues to provide great fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, biscuits and fish.

You can visit this coming Saturday 10am till 4pm with the street food continuing up to 8pm. Let’s hope this community project can keep on track and local people help it go full steam ahead.

For more information on the TRAXX Market Project, visit www.traxxsheffield.co.uk