Wick Community Market returns on April 30 and lasts Saturdays of each month – a bid to bring footfall to the town centre

The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) confirmed that it will host a community market at the end of this month (Saturday, April 30) and as a monthly fixture to stimulate well-needed footfall in the town centre.

The RBWCC has been successful in achieving funding from SSE Bowl, DSRL Employees Charity Fund and HC Discretionary Fund to procure 20 marquees for a community market in Wick town centre. The community council now invites micro and small business artisan producers across foodstuff, drinks, arts and crafts for uptake of stalls every Saturday at the end of the month.

RBWCC vice-chairman Allan Farquhar said: "Unfortunately, we had to postpone our Market Day scheduled for Saturday the 16th – however, the 30th is still planned to go ahead."

Mr Farquhar said that while it was disappointing to not have had an Easter market in Wick, it was heartening to see that local market culture had sprung into action across Caithness last weekend.

The last community market was run by RBWCC in Caithness House back in Nov/Dec 2019, with about a dozen or so stallholders in the foyer each Saturday in the run up to Christmas. "This proved very successful to the town centre as a whole, by increasing footfall and providing the opportunity for social interaction not usually realised in the dismal run up to Christmas," said Mr Farquhar.

"We also had some stalls at the Christmas lights switch on last year 2021 – a volunteer run event which attracted a great turnout by the public. We are working with local micro, small businesses and other 'farmer type' markets to realise the benefits of a regular thriving market day in our town centre and to entice locals and a greater proportion of an estimated 200 – 250,000 visitors to our county to spend time and money in our town to the benefit of our community."

Mr Farquhar said that the RBWCC was "under no illusion that this will be an easy venture" and it was well aware of the concerns of long established shop holders. "However, it only takes a look along High St/Market Square any day of the week and it's obvious that something must be done to stimulate regeneration."

Should traders wish to reserve a pitch for the April 30 market or for the last Saturday in the month thereafter, please contact RBWCC or Wick Community Market through its Facebook pages.

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