Traders in Louth have said the market is an “asset’ to the town, but agree more needs to be done to keep it alive.
East Lindsey District Council is set to look at how it can make markets across the district more sustainable at a meeting next Tuesday.
Recommendations include creating a five-year plan, further investments, employing a supervisor to enforce regulations and changes to payment systems as well as creating new initiatives to encourage young people and addressing anti-social behaviour concerns.
The market’s busiest day, they say is Wednesday, with Fridays and Saturdays tailing off – particularly as people go out-of-town for their weekend shops.
Karene Leonnard, market trader.
Karene Leonnard has been on the market for four years.
She said: “Other Markets haven’t seen the interest taken as they should and it’s just died.
“We’ve got a great selection and character here and if the market goes where do people come?
“They want variety, they like the one-to-one, they like the fact they can touch and look and ask questions. We all have to work together.
“It’s a beautiful market town, its important that the market stays because it helps the traders but also it’s a great asset to the retailers because you’ve got people coming to see all the interesting things here.”
She said sheets which act as coverings needed to be more secure and agreed with the suggestion of a supervisor to welcome traders.
Cheryl Metcalfe, manageress at the nearby Tina’s cafe, said takings increased by almost 50% on market days – however, she said Friday and Saturday markets were still quiet.
She said: “It’s a shame on Saturday because half the stalls are empty. It doesn’t look very attractive.”
She said the market needed a larger variety of traders to attract people.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith, has been a market trader at Louth for 40 years, and said it was about keeping the traders on side.
He said the council could do more to help – including collecting rubbish at the end of the day – and warned of the dangers of out-of-town shopping centres.
Alistair Bourne
Alistair Bourne, who has only been on the market for six weeks, said the market had been “great”.
“I couldn’t think of any other way of selling because I’m not good online, I’m not good at computers. But I wanted to get my name out to the town really and hopefully a bit further.”
Louth Independent Traders chairman Gary Denniss
Gary Denniss, who chairs the Louth Independent Traders said: “Predominantly you’ve got your cafes and coffee shops which are all well-served by the Markets, they are the ones which would suffer first but as a town we all feed off the people who come to the market so it’s an integral part of the town and it’s the identity of the town as well.
“If we were to lose the market people would not come here.”
He said he was working with ELDC to improve the market including trying to entice younger stall holders.
He added that a Christmas Market, set to take place on December 2, would “showcase” how successful it could be – and was fully booked.
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Face coverings will once again be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday, November 30 — but pubs and restaurants are exempt for now.
The Prime Minister announced the new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron COVID variant, with the first two cases in Nottingham and Chelmsford.
The government said the measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks. MPs are due to vote on confirming the measures after they come into force.
The other significant change affects international travellers, with everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant. From Sunday, November 28, South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola were added to the UK’s travel red list.
About COVID-19 Omicron
The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.
Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it.
A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.
Health secretary: “plans as normal for Christmas”
Sajid Javid told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday it would be “irresponsible to make guarantees” but the measures announced this week in reaction to the Omicron variant will “buy us time” to enable scientists to assess it.
“People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas,” he said.
But Mr Javid said the country was “nowhere near” reintroducing measures such as working from home or social distancing, arguing that they carry a “heavy price” economically, socially and in terms of mental health.
He added that he was expecting the government’s vaccines advisers to advise him “imminently” on broadening the booster programme to younger age groups.
The first two UK cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been identified, one of which was in Nottingham, near the Lincolnshire border.
Two cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 identified in the U.K.
Individuals and their households are self-isolating and contact tracing is ongoing
From 04:00 Sunday, November 28, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola will be added to the UK’s travel red list
After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that two cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 have been identified in the UK.
The individuals that have tested positive, and all members of their households, are being re-tested and told to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing is underway.
One case has been located in Chelmsford and the other in Nottingham.
The two cases are linked and there is a link to travel to Southern Africa. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious.
In addition, in line with updated advice from the UKHSA, from 4am Sunday Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola will be added to the travel red list. Travellers who have returned from these four countries in last 10 days must isolate and get a PCR test. UKHSA are following up recent arrivals from these countries.
This adds to the six countries placed on the red list on Friday.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid said:
“Thanks to our world class genomic sequencing we have been made aware of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing.
“We will do all we can to protect the UK public against this emerging threat and that is why we are surging testing capacity to the impacted communities and introducing travel restrictions on a further four countries: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola. We will not hesitate to take further action if required.
“This is a stark reminder that we are not yet out of this pandemic. Getting the vaccine has never been more important – please come forward for your first jab if you haven’t already and if eligible, book your booster as soon as possible.”
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said:
“We will continue to work closely with the international community to quickly gather and analyse information on this variant to understand any possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines.
“It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions – get a PCR test if you have symptoms, isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can.”
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:
“We have identified these cases thanks to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are able to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread. We are particularly grateful to public health colleagues in South Africa for early sharing of information on the Omicron variant to support global health security.
“We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.
“If you have any COVID-19 symptoms you must isolate and get a PCR test immediately
“It remains vital to come forward for vaccination, wear a face covering in crowded places and try to meet people in well-ventilated areas.”
From 04:00 on Sunday, November 28, non-UK and Irish residents who have been in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through any of these countries while changing flights.
UK and Irish residents arriving from 04:00 Sunday, November 28, must isolate in a government-approved facility for 10 days. During their stay, they will be required to take a coronavirus PCR test on day 2 and day 8.
About B.1.1.529 Omicron
The UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VuI) on Thursday 25 November. In response, the government announced that six African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia – would be added to the red list.
The B.1.1.529 variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility.
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