Date set for Chichester Farmers’ Market to resume – this is how it will work

The market is being reintroduced on Friday 5 June, in a temporary location at Cattle Market Car Park, Chichester.

This is a health and safety measure in order to reduce the number of people in the main high street at any one time, in preparation for more shops starting to reopen, the council said.

The market will continue to be held in this temporary location until further notice.

Strict social distancing measures will be in place to ensure the safety of customers, stallholders and staff, according to the council. These include:

– a one-in, one-out queuing system at entry

– a one-way system

– cashless payment with all traders now able to take card

– there will be no food tasters

– all produce will be pre-wrapped – any food on display will not be for sale, and

– two metre social distancing will be in place at all of the stalls, with limited numbers allowed to queue.

The council’s Health Protection and Health and Safety teams have provided lots of advice for stall holders, and the market manager will be on hand on the day to ensure that people adhere to the measures in place.

Councillor Alan Sutton, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communications, Licensing and Events, said: “We are really pleased to be able to run the market again, supporting both our local stallholders and customers.

“We want to enable people to access fresh local produce, as well as support these vital small producers.

“By moving the market to a temporary location we will be helping to reduce the number of people in the main pedestrian shopping centre, making it safer for all members of the public.

“We have put in place a wide range of social distancing and hygiene measures and I’m confident that the market will be a safe space for customers.”

For the time being, the market will feature only food stalls in line with government advice.

Produce will include vegetables from Glasshouse Salads in Batchmere, bread from Petworth’s SØDT Bakery, locally caught fish from Selsey Seafood and lamb from St Columba among many others.

The market will take place every first and third Friday of the month, 9am until 2pm.

For more information visit the council’s website here.

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