Sweets Pick 'n' Mix given notice to leave Saxmundham market

Kevin Hilliard had run the 'Sweets Pick "n" Mix' stand at Saxmundham market in all weathers, but now he has received a letter from the town council, which operates the market, giving him four weeks notice to leave as it seeks to rebrand the weekly Wednesday event as 'Fresh Fare at Fromus Square'.

The decision will affect his livelihood, although he will continue to operate another market stall he runs at Stowmarket, while he also attends shows around East Anglia, such as the Grand Henham Steam Rally at Henham Park near Southwold.

His plight has prompted an outpouring of support for him on social media site Facebook, while a petition calling for the stall to be saved has also been set up by his daughter Michaela Kerry on the website change.org and has so far collected 634 signatures.

Kevin Hilliard (Image: Michaela Kerry)

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He said: "I can't see it being a sensible decision. It is people's own choice if they buy sweets or not. 

"I do not feel the residents of Saxmundham have been given a say in what they want from the market as the posts on social media show the level of support for me.

"I am totally overwhelmed by the level of support I have received."

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In a statement posted on Facebook, the town council said it had been looking at ways to revive the struggling market, which had been in decline for some time due to reduced visitors and had been at risk of closing unless steps were taken to safeguard its future.

An initial decision to move the event from Market Square to Fromus Square to take advantage of customers visiting the nearby Waitrose and Tesco supermarkets had not proven successful, with traders reporting no increase in custom.

Stallholders' fees had also been waived in an effort to support the market.

Now the council is focusing on providing fresh food and has taken inspiration from Framlingham market, where bread, fish and meat stalls have proved popular.

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It said the Wednesday event had not proven as popular as the monthly Saturday market it runs in the town.

The council said: "The move towards a fresh food market was taken by the councillors in the face of the very real concern that the weekly market in its current form is unsustainable.

"Truthfully, it is on the brink of closure due to poor footfall.  

"In our efforts to support the weekly market, the stall fees were waived so all traders have had a free service to help them for several years. 

"The decision to rebrand and redirect the weekly market with a focus on fresh produce was not a snap nor an easy decision, but one taken after months of careful consideration, both amongst councillors, the surrounding businesses, the market traders and members of the public."

The council also said the strength of feeling on social media was 'genuinely unexpected' and hoped the posters would visit the market.

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