Ann Coffey

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Stockport Express Column – March 2009

25 March 2009

It is not every day that an MP gets the chance to give evidence to one of Parliament's famous "watchdog" Select Committees.

So I was honoured to be asked to come to the Communities and Local Government Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into what can be done to help traditional retail markets, like Stockport. The Committee is asking a range of people and organisations that have an interest in markets to give evidence.

I was asked because I am the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Markets Group and we have been very active in promoting markets. I also have a longstanding interest in our local market going back over 30 years.

The market has, for hundreds of years, provided fresh fruit and produce and other commodities for the towns' people to buy. It was the original shopping centre for the town. That has of course changed over the centuries.

In recent years changes in shopping habits and the attractiveness of supermarkets has affected Stockport, like many other markets and the problem is as less people visit the market less traders are interested in having stalls .

Our All Party Markets Group are convinced that in order to reverse this markets need to be an integral part of town centre regeneration and need the support of both local councils and national government to do this.

I stressed to the Select Committee when I was presenting my evidence the need for more investment for markets to help them make the changes they need to make to attract new shoppers, particularly young people. And I also stressed the value of markets to the wider community.

Markets are a source of jobs and business start-ups. They provide fresh food and produce, often locally grown. They also community life because they are a place people can meet and talk. For older people isolated at home the visit to the market is also a social event. The open space can be used for other activities such as live music and other events.

The markets group is asking for a Markets Minister to be appointed to co-ordinate action on markets between all the government departments. The minister could become a "champion" for markets and encourage local authorities to invest in, promote and advertise markets properly in their areas.

Stockport Market has been part of our town since 1250 and I want it to be part of the town in 2150. That is not just because of sentiment on my behalf. It is because I believe what it offers is not easily replaceable. I think with support locally and nationally it can be a huge asset complementing the town centre shops and providing an additional attraction for shoppers. It would be a pity and if after so much investment in keeping our heritage buildings in the market place the market itself a part of our heritage died.

I hope the recommendations that the Select Committee makes will support Stockport and other traditional markets.