What is the future of Dorchester's Wednesday market?

The question has been asked year after year – usually followed by a call for more reports, surveys and questionnaires.

This week saw a repeat performance – to the exasperation of some councillors.

Dorchester town councillor, Janet Hewitt, a self-confessed market fan, called for the talk to stop and for action to be taken – a plea echoed by fellow Dorchester councillor Stella Jones, who said she wanted to hear suggestions for the future by the June panel meeting.

Market operator John George repeated an offer he has made before – "give me a longer lease and I'll invest more…the longer the lease, the more I will invest". His agreement with the joint councils runs out in the spring of 2026.

He told Wednesday's markets panel meeting: "It is still a good market today when so many have declined or disappeared. We are keen to run it now and into the future as well…we are prepared to put our money where our mouth is and invest a considerable sum to bring it more up to date."

Despite his offer the joint market panel decided it would prefer to advertise the contract to operate the market, potentially ending a quarter of a century's link with Mr George's family company, Ensors, although it would be able to bid for the contract.

Market income has consistently dropped for the last decade with the Fairfield in need of repairs and renovations – although the Wednesday stall market remains a favourite with many and has recently shown signs of an increase in stall numbers.

Cllr Hewitt told this week's market panel that the traders had continued to offer their stalls throughout the pandemic and for a significant number of local people, often older, the value for money they provided was a necessity. For some it was likely to soon become even more important with incomes expected to be squeezed and costs rising.

The weekly visit is often of almost equal importance socially – offering an opportunity to meet friends and visit town centre shops and cafes.

"There's an awful lot of support for it – but we need to revitalise it and we need to do it now," said Cllr Hewitt.

Dorchester town clerk Adrian Stuart said that now might be the time when the Wednesday market, and the daily market in the Cornhill enjoyed a resurgence – with a growing interest in shopping locally and cutting down on food miles.

The basic choice is between keeping the market traditional, with fruit, veg and seasonal plants, or to try and turn it into something else – one suggestion being to make it more of a tourist attraction with a wider range of stalls or even making it Victorian or Thomas Hardy related.

Panel members, made up of town and Dorset Council members, also heard of proposals for regular monthly Sunday themed markets, not necessarily in the same place, switching between the Fairfield, South Street, Poundbury, the Borough Gardens or Maumbury Rings.