More than half of people that took part in a consultation on Southport Market believe introducing more food and drink options would have a positive effect on the building.

Late last year Sefton Council ran a four-week consultation asking the views of existing traders, local businesses, residents and visitors to the area on the vision for the renewed market space.

Hundreds of people got involved via Sefton Council’s online e-consult site and through hard copies that were available at the King Street market and other Council buildings.















91% of respondents who responded were Sefton residents and just under 80% of them had heard or seen the impressive images charting how the King Street market could look in the future.

While no final decisions have yet been made, the Council remains committed to ensuring Southport Market continues to operate and make a positive contribution to the local economy as well as becoming a key visitor destination.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “We have said all along that we value Southport Market but the current offer and the way it operates simply doesn’t work.

“The consultation reaffirmed this with people saying they don’t visit the facility much, highlighting the number of empty units and how it was an uninviting place to visit.

“A number of responses also identified that a change in the offer at the market would improve the look and feel of the market quarter in the town.

“People have now told us how they would like a variety of food and drink establishments at the market with 78% of respondents saying they would buy from a deli/greengrocer/butcher that focused on local or specialised produce.

“Early plans drawn up for us last year had a flexible events space at the back of the market and our consultation found that 72% of people would visit an artisan and local food market with 64% saying they would go to a craft market as well.

“These findings have been reported back to our public Consultation and Engagement Panel with the view of moving the project forward during our Borough of Culture year.

“Building on our former investment at the market, we believe these findings can help us move forward and help transform the building into a unique offer that will only benefit the town and the wider borough.”

Please, this is the interpretation that the council
take from the survey to justify yet another
bo..ock dropping investment.
Something really smells and it ain't the food.

What I don't understand is this ?

The Market tenants landlord (Sefton Council) create pop up markets (Christmas, Continental and General) on Lord St and Chapel St, nowhere near the 'Market Quarter'

This takes what little trade there is at the Market Hall away, when IF the landlord cared, those markets would be in King St and Market St, and also utilise the many empty spaces inside the Market Hall.

Please don't let anyone connected to the council so much as set up a whelk stall in the market they aren't up to it.

Originally Posted by local

Please don't let anyone connected to the council so much as set up a whelk stall in the market they aren't up to it.

And I suppose that you are an expert then

Originally Posted by local

Please don't let anyone connected to the council so much as set up a whelk stall in the market they aren't up to it.

The problem is they keep employing so called experts, if you look around all the markets that do well are the old fashioned rough & ready ones not the 'Harrods Food Hall' type the experts recommend.

I can never understand why Councils, not just Sefton, hold these consultations with the public, when they don’t ever have any intention of taking any notice of what the public say.

Go Bolton market. Set up same it’s rammed all the time.

Originally Posted by onehorsetown2

And I suppose that you are an expert then

Maybe he is and maybe he isn't - but he is speaking common sense!

Originally Posted by Alikado

The problem is they keep employing so called experts, if you look around all the markets that do well are the old fashioned rough & ready ones not the 'Harrods Food Hall' type the experts recommend.

I have been to several markets in other towns - the most popular ones are the traditional types with a great variety of stalls and goods reasonably priced. I fail to understand how any local residents would have approved of a food hall in this location - I can only think that the people who were asked, were not from Southport but from the outlying areas of Sefton or did the council voice leading questions?

The council tried to install a cafe in the Atkinson - it failed badly under poor management, but it could have been a very successful venture if it has been run correctly.
The Food Stall holders on Chapel Street barely cover their costs when they are here.
The Food Festival has more people from outside of Southport attend - and it is treated as a great day out - for their dogs and beer drinkers.
The coaches pull up near the front - I cannot visualise tourists rushing to get all the way into town for a food market - they are more likely to stay around Lord Street and the Beach areas.
Visitors who arrive by train are more likely to head to the sea front as opposed to staying in town.
The market hall is not in a good location for people wanting to eat before leaving the town either - it is not that close to the station and nowhere near the coach stops.
The cafes neighbouring the market have had to close because there was insufficient footfall.
There is to be £millions spent on this food venture! Why not use that money to reduce the rents on the premises to attract more entrepreneurs to open stalls and create jobs. A greater variety of stalls with reasonable prices would be a far better bet!

Originally Posted by said

I have been to several markets in other towns - the most popular ones are the traditional types with a great variety of stalls and goods reasonably priced. I fail to understand how any local residents would have approved of a food hall in this location - I can only think that the people who were asked, were not from Southport but from the outlying areas of Sefton or did the council voice leading questions?

The council tried to install a cafe in the Atkinson - it failed badly under poor management, but it could have been a very successful venture if it has been run correctly.
The Food Stall holders on Chapel Street barely cover their costs when they are here.
The Food Festival has more people from outside of Southport attend - and it is treated as a great day out - for their dogs and beer drinkers.
The coaches pull up near the front - I cannot visualise tourists rushing to get all the way into town for a food market - they are more likely to stay around Lord Street and the Beach areas.
Visitors who arrive by train are more likely to head to the sea front as opposed to staying in town.
The market hall is not in a good location for people wanting to eat before leaving the town either - it is not that close to the station and nowhere near the coach stops.
The cafes neighbouring the market have had to close because there was insufficient footfall.
There is to be £millions spent on this food venture! Why not use that money to reduce the rents on the premises to attract more entrepreneurs to open stalls and create jobs. A greater variety of stalls with reasonable prices would be a far better bet!

The Market was refurbished because it was declining, the blame was pointed at the fact it was old and not suitable for the modern shopper. Consultants who were supposed to be experts at running markets were employed at considerable cost to design then run the market, a few months after opening they walked away.

The cafe / bakery in the Atkinson was a Private Enterprise leased out by the Council.

The Chapel St stall holders should be housed in or surrounding the market.

Coaches pick up and set down outside the former Tourism Information Centre on Eastbank St, you couldn't get much closer to the Market.

Visitors arriving by train know where they are heading before getting off the train, the market is only a 2 or 3 minute walk from the station, it is an ideal location.

Originally Posted by justbecause

I can never understand why Councils, not just Sefton, hold these consultations with the public, when they don’t ever have any intention of taking any notice of what the public say.

They have to, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, damned if they do, damned if they don't. If /when something goes wrong it is because they didn't employ experts and if they did it is because they employed someone on the cheap.

Originally Posted by said

Maybe he is and maybe he isn't - but he is speaking common sense!

But he isn't speaking common sense, he has offered no alternatives. The council is shouted at for doing something, shouted at for not doing something and shouted at for bringing in experts, they can't win.

If I buy something in (say) ASDA they charge me to park and the refund the cost.

If I buy something in the Market, the council charge me to park and keep the money.