Dorchester markets have continued to suffer financially – with likely end of year figures down by 30 per cent on the predicted outturn.

The main Wednesday market has continued to operate throughout the pandemic, although at greatly reduced levels, but other markets in the town stopped altogether for a time – including the Sunday car boot, stalls in Cornhill and the farmers' and other specialist markets.

With the exception of the farmers' markets all the others are now back in operation. The Cornhill market is expected to show a zero return for the 20-21 year but other trading areas, including rents for the Corn Market and Café are anticipated to be on target. Car parking income for the Fairfield will be down after an agreement that only half the budgeted income would be transferred due to lockdowns and other restrictions. At the end of March the combined markets are expected to show a profit of £80,400, against a budget prediction of £121,200. With profits split between Dorset Council and Dorchester Town Council, the larger council will take £45,400 and Dorchester Town Council £24,440 with £10,600 transferred to the car boot reserve fund. The Wednesday market is leased to operators, Ensors, which say they are cautiously predicting an improved position in their end of year figures, which have yet to be produced for the council, compared to 2020/21 which saw income severely suppressed due to Covid restrictions. The joint markets panel will hear that predictions for the year ahead (22-23) anticipate a modest improvement in overall income – largely from an increased level of car parking fees, with market fees frozen at 21-22 levels, although there is a warning that some outgoings, especially utility bills, may rise well above inflation. The panel, which meets on Wednesday, has yet to come to a conclusion about how the markets should be managed in the future, or how to attract more customers, despite calls to tackle the issues in the past and some work being carried out, including questionnaires and surveys. The Wednesday market at the Fairfield had gradually declined over 10 years or more, only generating 30 per cent of the pitch fees it did in 2005, a year when the two councils shared a profit of £190,000. Ensors, which manage it, has a lease which runs until April 2026. The company is keen to invest in the market, but only in return for an extension to the lease, something which, so far, one or both councils have been reluctant to agree. The company has recently closed the Wimborne market, the site of which will be redeveloped for housing. Council options for the future include continuing to work with Ensors, offering the lease to a new company, or bringing the management of the market in-house from 2026, although there is a question whether either council has the skills or current resources to do that. A report to this week's panel notes: "Irrespective of which long term solution is selected it is important that in the short term the panel works with Ensors to ensure that the market is well managed and well promoted. At present there is limited resource allocated to this task."