Organisers of the weekly Westbury High Street Market have said they have had to end the market due to a decrease in footfall in the area combined with the rising cost of living crisis which they say has resulted in a drop in sales for the vendors.
The weekly High Street market initially opened in 2021 to welcome people back to the town centre following lockdown and to help bolster local shops and businesses.
Westbury Town Council, who organised the events, say that traders at the weekly market have seen a “huge drop in sales” as less people are attending the events following the rising cost of living, but added that they could return the event to the town in the future.
The town council said, “It is with a heavy heart that we are calling it a day on our Westbury High Street Market. We have made the sad decision to close the market because the footfall had decreased dramatically within the town since the closure of the post office and McColl’s and with the increased cost of living it just wasn’t viable for it to continue for most stall holders.
“But we have a few success stories; two of our traders have gone on to open a shop together in Westbury (The Little Boutique and The Flower Hive). Demaine Artisan will still be opening his shop on Warminster Road on Wednesday mornings for all his regular customers and has moved to a micro shop in the Shires in Trowbridge.
“All the other traders have seen their business grow due to having a presence on the market, they all have Facebook pages so they can sell online! That said all the regular Wednesday traders will still be attending the brunch events which have had a fantastic response from our community and beyond. Never say never, we may be back.”
You can view the full list of traders on the Westbury High Street Market Facebook page.
The Pop Up Sunday Brunch takes place on the last Sunday of each month at Soisy Gardens near the library and also the High Street from 10am to 2pm. The event, which has proved to be popular with the local community, features a range of local food and drinks, including cocktails, coffees, and Prosecco, as well as a number of craft traders. Visit Westbury’s Pop Up Sunday Brunch on Facebook for more information.
