Market traders across West Lindsey will be able to apply for a new grant as part of plans to boost markets across the district.
West Lindsey District Council has made the decision to allocate funding for market traders by utilising some of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) awarded to the Council from Central Government. The ARG funding scheme was set up to support businesses severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions.
Cllr John McNeill, Vice Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, welcomed the news of a new Market Trader’s Grant.
He said: “Street markets are a feature of community life in West Lindsey. The Council recognises that the street markets have an important role to play in the regeneration of our Town Centres and the recovery of the High Street following the COVID-19 crisis.
“We recognise that Market Traders may have been a sector which has suffered particularly badly throughout the crisis, but many traders have been unable to access other funding and this is where the Additional Restrictions Grant can support them.
“In order to encourage regular and new traders on Market Rasen Market, Caistor Market, Gainsborough General Market and Gainsborough Farmers’ and Craft Market, it has been agreed that the Council will create the ‘Market Trader’s Grant’.”
Gainsborough holds a general market twice a week on a Tuesday and a Saturday, plus a monthly Farmers’ and Craft Market. There are also regular markets in Market Rasen and Caistor.
The value of the grant will be based upon stall fees between June 2021 and December 2021 and a pro rata payment for a further three months (January 2022 to March 2022). This will effectively provide grants to the equivalent of nine months’ trading fees.
This approach aims to support those traders who have regularly attended Markets throughout the crisis, but also to encourage growth – especially at a time when residents may be looking for new ways to generate income.
In January 2022 there will be a simple application process for traders to claim their grant funding.
For more information about your local market contact:
Caistor Market: clerk.caistortc@gmail.com, 01472 476122
Market Rasen Market: communitymanager@marketrasentc.co.uk, 01673 308010
Gainsborough General Market: market.officer@west-lindsey.gov.uk, 01427 676676 or 07810 658397
Gainsborough Farmers’ and Craft Market: charlotte.toplass@marshallsyard.co.uk, 01427 810706
Further information on support for businesses can be found on our Coronavirus: Support for Businesses pages