We’ve won High Street war - traders

6:20am Saturday 4th October 2008

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TRADERS are victorious in their battle to get an Eastleigh shopping street re-opened on its busiest day of the week.

Council chiefs have decided to scrap the extended Saturday market, just six months into the controversial trial which had closed High Street to traffic on Saturdays.

The U-turn comes after traders demanded an immediate end to the weekly closure because they said it was driving customers away. Trade has also been hammered by road resurfacing work on the major approach to the town centre.

The market extension trial started in March. In the early months the road was lined with stalls but the numbers steadily declined and the Daily Echo revealed how there were just half a dozen along the whole road.

The council say that a decline in the number of stalls operating in High Street has led to it calling a halt to the trial. From October 11 the Saturday market will only operate from the Leigh Road precinct while High Street and the Leigh Road car park will be re-opened to Saturday traffic. Eastleigh Council’s Cabinet member for business and skills, Peter Wall was disappointed but believed that the trial was worthwhile.

He said: “The idea for the trial stemmed from a popular street market during last year’s Winter Wonderland event. This created a really vibrant atmosphere and helped attract thousands of extra visitors to the town.

“The project did initially bring extra people to the town centre. But with the general downturn for markets across the country this early success could not be maintained.”

Steve Dalley, who runs the Eastleigh Sewing Centre, was among High Street traders who led the call to scrap the trial and re-open the road on Saturdays. He said he welcomed the news that High Street would be re-opened on Saturdays.

“It is good news that the council has seen sense and is getting rid of the extended Saturday market. Let us hope that with the council’s support we will be able to regrow the town to the benefit of its residents.”

Another blow to local confidence is the fact that a £25 million cinema and leisure complex expected to be open for Christmas has been delayed until next Easter.