Free health and fitness offer for farmers' market visitors

VISITORS to the West Somerset Farmers’ Market are being offered an extra-healthy treat in addition to those already available on Friday, June 29.
West Somerset Sports and Leisure Centre together with West Somerset Council will be attending in a marquee nearby to provide health and fitness advice and free mini-sessions.
Leisure centre manager Jayne Lethaby said: “We will be offering everybody free mini-health assessments, fitness class taster sessions, and advice on how to improve general health and fitness.
“The council has provided a marquee in Wellington Square and we would love to see people of all ages - from six to 106.
“We are welcoming people of all levels of fitness - from couch potatoes to fitness fanatics. There will be advice on health and some fun fitness apparatus for everybody to try.”
The centre’s professional instructors will be on hand for informal chats about how people can improve their fitness levels and lead healthier lifestyles.
Under their supervision, people will be able to try out fitness ‘spinning’ bikes, as used in the popular ‘spinning’ classes, and there will be advice on the perfect class or gym programme to help people to achieve their best fitness levels.
Council economic development and tourism portfolio holder Councillor Michael Downes, said: “We hope plenty of people will take up this challenge here in the heart of Minehead.
“The aim of the market is to bring fresh, healthy local produce and eating options to local people, and we are delighted that the leisure centre’s offers complement this perfectly.”
The market takes place in The Parade, Minehead, between 8.30 am amd 2.30 pm, and
The leisure centre team will be on hand during this time with their advice in Wellington Square.

• Our photograph shows the market when it was temporarily relocated in The Avenue for a continental market to be held at the same time. Photo submitted.

Bishop samples produce from West Somerset Farmers' Market

THE Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Rev Peter Price, dropped in on the award-winning West Somerset Farmers’ Market to sample some of the local produce on sale.
The market, which is held every Friday in The Parade, Minehead, was packed with its usual array of fresh produce, ranging from locally-reared meats and game through to organic vegetables, fish, cheeses, herbs, pies, pickles and many others.
The Bishop showed a keen interest in the stalls and sampled some of the local produce and chatted with stallholders and customers as he made his way through the market.
Bishop Peter said: “The value of farmers’ markets is that they bring local people together and generate a real sense of community.
“They support local producers, give residents access to fresh produce, cut down food miles, which is good for the environment, and provide communities with local social events.
“As such, they are important for uniting and contributing to the social and economic well-being of our communities.”
Roger Webber, who runs Hindon Organic Farm, near Minehead, and is chairman of the market, said: “We are delighted the Bishop has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit the market to meet and talk to stallholders.
“It means a lot to us to have his support with regards to selling the district’s fresh produce to local people, and because of his recognition that markets like ours provide focal points for communities.”
The Vicar of Minehead, the Rev Simon Lloyd, said: “We are really pleased the market has been established in the centre of town.
“It is fantastic for local people and helps encourage trade and prosperity, which is great.”
West Somerset Council portfolio holder for economic development and tourism, Councillor Michael Downes, said: “We actively support the local farmers’ market because it helps sustain local businesses, which is good for the district’s economy, while also providing a popular attraction for tourists.”
The West Somerset Farmers’ Market is open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm.

• Our photographs show (top) Bishop Peter sampling some of the produce from Hindon Organic Farm with Penny Webber (left) and Roger Webber; and (below, left to right) West Somerset Council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance, farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, Councillor Michael Downes, the Right Rev Peter Price, and the Rev Simon Lloyd. Photos submitted.

Runner-up award won by Minehead Farmers' Market

A PRESTIGIOUS award has been won by the West Somerset Farmers’ Market, in Minehead.
It has been named runner-up in Natural England’s Best Farmers’ Market of the Year 2007 contest.
The award was formally presented at the Bath and West Show’s recent Food and Drinks Awards Ceremony.
Farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, said: “The market has only been up and running for about six months, so we are delighted to receive an award.
“However, it has just whetted our appetites and we want to expand so that next year we make sure we win the top award.
“I would like to thank all the local businesses which make our market such a success, and also local people for their support and encouragement.
“We are always on the look-out for local businesses that lend themselves to farmers’ markets and would encourage anybody thinking of branching out to contact me.”
West Somerset Council’s economic development and tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Michael Downes, said: “The council helped to set up the market and continues to be actively involved with it, so we are thrilled that it is already receiving this sort of recognition.
“I would like to thank Roger and all the producers for their dedication in getting the market off the ground and for making it so successful.
“Initiatives like the market boost the local economy and help support the district’s rural food producers while providing the residents with fresh, healthy local food options - it is a win-win situation and we would like to congratulate everybody involved.”
West Somerset Farmers’ Market is open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm every Friday in The Parade, Minehead. Roger Webber can be contacted on 01643 705244.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) West Somerset Council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance, Councillor Michael Downes, farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, and market treasurer Margaret Heard. Photo submitted.
  

County council axes seafront market

THE long-running Minehead seafront outdoor market has been axed by Somerset County Council.
The authority has decided not to grant the market operators a licence this year.
County council spokeswoman Jan Hookings said it was ‘because of the planned redevelopment of the station site’.
The Liberal Democrat-run county council is due to press ahead with an industrial and leisure development of the site beside Minehead’s railway station which will use the land on which the twice-weekly outdoor market has been held.
There was controversy previously when West Somerset District Council proposed a similar scheme for the site and local residents demanded the market should be kept.
The controversy partly gave rise to the creation by the Liberal Democrats of the residents’ group Direct, which organised a protest march against the scheme.
Direct, which is now actively supporting ‘Independent’ candidates in next month’s local council elections, has not similarly fought the county council’s plans.
A Continental market held in Minehead recently proved a big success with shoppers flooding into the town centre.
Photo submitted.

Continental market brings European produce to West Somerset

WEST Somerset is going cosmopolitan in the food stakes over the weekend with the launch of a Continental market in Minehead.
Fine food from a 40-strong contingent of European producers joins the regular weekly West Somerset Farmers’ Market in the town.
Continental market specialist, Amber Markets Ltd, is working with West Somerset Council on a four-day trial period running from March 29 to April 1.
West Somerset Council economic development portfolio holder, Councillor Nick Messarra, who helped to mastermind the market initiative, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local people to sample the best local and foreign produce.
“We hope residents and visitors will enjoy not only the flavours, but also the atmosphere that this brings to Minehead.
“We are aiming to bring a wider range of produce to local residents and encourage visitors to stay in Minehead longer, which means they will spend more money in district.
“The local economy will also receive an extra boost because the Continental stall holders and their helpers will need accommodation in the area.”
The Continental market is open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The regular West Somerset Farmers’ Market is also open for business as usual on Friday, March 30, from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm in The Parade.
A representative of West Somerset Council will be on site or in the immediate vicinity of the market throughout the four-day trial, as will a market co-ordinator from Amber Markets.

• Our photographs show a Continental market held in a different venue. Photos submitted.

Taste of the Continent comes to Minehead market

A TASTE of the Continent is coming to West Somerset with up to 40 French and European stallholders joining the Minehead Farmers’ Market to offer a feast of fresh produce to local gourmets.
West Somerset Council has liaised with Amber Markets Ltd, a specialist organiser of markets for French and other European traders, and has arranged a four-day trial running from Thursday, March 29, to Sunday, April 1, inclusive.
The council’s economic development and business portfolio holder, Councillor Nick Messarra, said: “The local farmers market has been very successful and we hope that by offering local people a wider choice of produce, the markets will attract even more shoppers to Minehead.
“People will be able to buy superb local food and enjoy a new range of excellent Continental foods in one big market.
“If this trial is successful, we hope to run more of these joint markets on an occasional basis.
“We hope it will continue to encourage people from the surrounding villages, as well as tourists, to come into Minehead to shop.
“Extra customers will boost sales for local traders and that is great news for the local economy.”
The market will take place from 8.30 am to 5.50 pm daily in the middle section of The Avenue, which means closing the road from the Summerland Avenue car park entrance to the corners of North Road and Tregonwell Road between 6 am and 7.30 pm.
Traffic will be diverted and residents’ parking made available in the North Road and Summerland car parks, while the bus stop outside Woolworth’s will be temporarily relocated to Blenheim Road.
The council’s market towns regeneration officer, Pete Vallance, said, “We are aiming to bring a wider range of produce to local residents and encourage visitors to stay in Minehead longer, which means they will spend more money in our local shops.
“The local economy will also receive a boost because the new stall holders and their helpers will need accommodation in the area.
“We are working with highways, the police, private and public transport providers, Minehead Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses to minimise any traffic flow problems, and we hope to work with local residents to see how we can minimise any disruption to them.”
Pedestrian access to all properties in the area will remain and it is proposed to make residents’ parking available in North Road and Summerland car parks.
Deliveries for traders and businesses will be accommodated, and although there is scope to temporarily relocate the bus stop outside Woolworth’s to Blenheim Road, the Bancks Street bus stop will be unaffected.
The proposed alternative route for traffic from the eastern end of the closure would be to divert it along North Road into Blenheim Road, and back to The Parade, and vice versa.
Mr Vallance said: “Taunton has a pedestrianised area that naturally lends itself to these markets.
“We do not have that luxury in Minehead but we are sure that by working together, we can minimise disruption and provide all the benefits that these markets bring to our local residents in West Somerset.”
A representative of West Somerset Council will be on-site or in the immediate vicinity of the market throughout the four-day trial, as will a market co-ordinator from Amber Markets.

Photos of Minehead Farmers' Market submitted.

Seafront industrial development for Minehead

INDUSTRIAL development of a key Minehead seafront site which civic protestors fought to preserve for tourism uses is to go ahead after all.
Somerset County Council is to carry out a £6.4 million scheme which it originally developed as a partnership with West Somerset Council before reneging on the agreement.
The county has now finalised detailed plans for the development of the Station Road market site and is submitting two funding applications to the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and European Regional Development Fund (EDRF) in order to secure cash to help finance the scheme.
It wants to build 12 environmentally sustainable industrial units on land alongside the West Somerset Railway, which protestors previously claimed would ruin the railway’s ability to expand its important role in the tourism economy.
The funding applications total £3.5 million, which would be added to £2.6 million provided by the county and £276,800 from the railway.
Provision will also be made in the scheme for a long-awaited Minehead Eye Youth Centre and for a turntable for the railway.
Space will be included for an open market and craft units, and 110 car parking spaces will be schemed in.
West Somerset Railway general manager Paul Conibeare said: “We are delighted to join with our partners in this exciting project which will bring more visitors to Somerset, by rail, and uniquely will give our visitors a ringside seat in watching a 120 tonne locomotive being turned by hand.”
Minehead’s county Councillor Ian Galloway - who previously was one of the more vociferous opponents of the scheme when the district council was involved - said: “This is a great example of what can be achieved by a community working in tandem with its county council.
“I would like to say thank you and well done to the officers and residents who have had the commitment and confidence to contribute so much and to work so hard for this development.”
County council economic development portfolio holder, Councillor Paul Buchanan, said: “Somerset County Council have made this investment with the consent of the people of West Somerset, with local public engagement and consultation at the heart of every decision that we have made.
“We are confident of securing the funding for the market site which will allow our plans to become a reality and huge benefit for the people of Minehead.”

• Our images show the site plan of the area alongside the railway and how the turntable area could look. Images submitted.

Town centre market opens in Minehead

THE first of the weekly produce markets in Minehead town centre was held on Friday, November 17, when members of the West Somerset Farmers Market set up stalls along the southern side of the Parade.
Despite the persistent rain which fell during the morning, there was a steady flow of people keen to try out the variety of stalls and the produce they were offering.
The market has been backed by West Somerset Council as part of its work to help support and regenerate the town centre economy.
Council economic development and business liaison portfolio holder Councillor Nick Messarra was instrumental in implementing the market initiative.
The council is also helping a similar weekly market to start in Watchet, where a site on The Esplanade has been reserved for it.
Councillor Messarra said: “There is a strong demand for fresh, local produce countrywide and we are delighted to be able to help move the market into the heart of Minehead to give local people the opportunity to make the most of our own fantastic local produce.
“We are hoping the market will bring people into town from the surrounding villages as well as providing a focal point for tourists and, with sales profits going straight to local producers, we are sure it will help boost West Somerset’s economy.”
The council is advising residents and road users that the topmost section of the southern side of The Parade - from Bancks Street to Friday Street - will be closed from 6.30 am – 4 pm on market days to allow traders time to set up and dismantle the market, which will be open from 8.30 am - 2.30 pm.
Council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance said: “We have been working with the police, highways agency, and public transport providers to ensure effective diversions are in place to minimise disruption.
“We will continually review these arrangements and the whole market trial will be reviewed next Easter.
“This market, combined with the market planned for Watchet Esplanade, will provide a great service to local people and also help ensure that our town centre regeneration projects contribute to local agricultural and rural economic sustainability targets.
“We hope people in West Somerset give the markets their full support.”

• Our photograph of the market shows (left to right) Councillor Nick Messarra, Pete Vallance, and Roger Webber, of Hindon Organic Farm, who is one of the market stallholders. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M1117005. Order photo reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk