LibDem Mayor Holbrook welcomes return of Hailsham street market and praises people for 'shopping local'

In his latest message to the residents of Hailsham, Town Mayor and Chairman of Hailsham Town Council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Holbrook, praised people for 'shopping local' in recent weeks and encouraged everyone to continue to support local traders.

"While we still have a very long way to go in our ongoing battle with and recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear that we are seeing some return to normality," said Mayor Holbrook. "Perhaps the most visible indicators of this are the increased easing of social distancing and lockdown restrictions, and the reopening of many local businesses in Hailsham. As more and more businesses gradually reopen in Hailsham, I encourage people to shop local and ask residents to continue to buy local products and services to help our local economy get back on its feet.

"In Hailsham, we are fortunate to have such a diverse range of shops and businesses - not just in the town centre but townwide. They all play a big part in the historic market town character of this town for those of us who live here - and equally, for the people who visit."

Mayor Holbrook also welcomed the return of the popular Hailsham Street Market last Saturday, after more than three months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, and urges locals to get back in the habit of frequenting the market again from now on.

"For the first few markets, there will be a limited number of stalls," he explains, "but the number of traders attending should increase in the near future as more and more of them reopen for business. Town Council staff, as organisers of the street market, have worked hard in recent weeks to bring back the market and taken steps to ensure that it is safe for shoppers and traders - and operate within the guidelines suggested by government agencies. The street market is carefully spaced out, with social distancing barriers in place where required and queuing systems in place at each stall.

"By supporting local producers, growers, suppliers and offering them the opportunity to sell locally - markets are an ideal way of showcasing the diverse range of products available in Hailsham and I'd encourage people to come down to Vicarage Field and support independent trade."

Hailsham Street Market takes place every Saturday from 8.30am to 1.30pm.