Ashburton council is considering all options for the future of a popular annual market after retailers complained the road closures are hurting their businesses.
Following the Ashburton Market Day on East Street in September, a group of CBD retailers asked the council to stop the road closures as it was impacting their trade.
In response, the council called for an issues and options report to guide their next steps.
Whether the retailers get their way, the market gets the green light to continue, or some middle ground can be found will now be the subject of a second report.
At the council meeting on Wednesday, chief executive Hamish Riach reminded councillors the report was “about outlining issues and options”, not finding out what people thought about them, but that could be the council’s next step.
And it was.
Councillor Russell Ellis put forward a motion to explore all the potential options.
“We have a passionate event organiser in town which we are lucky to have, but we also have passionate retailers in town who want their businesses to succeed.
“By getting this report we can get into a win-win situation for everyone.”
Council staff will explore the options by engaging with retailers and event organisers to prepare a report back to the council.
Councillor Lynette Lovett supported the move as she wanted to get an indication of where all the CBD retailers stand before making any decision.
Councillor Tony Todd, a former CBD retailer, said that business support for the market day had died over time and disagreed with the report of a 50-50 split of local and outside the district stallholders, believing it was far fewer locals.
Todd suggested the market day shifting to Baring Square East was the solution.
“Personally that’s the best option and the decision we should be making.”
A group of CBD Ashburton retailers, led by Jolene Laxton of Sparrows, told the council in October that East Street was not the place to hold markets, and they want them to end.
They claim that when the CBD is closed off, the majority of businesses suffer financially.
“Trading is down between 30% to 50% on these market days,” Laxton said in
Event organiser Carol Johns started her market day in 2021, replacing the traditional Boulevard Day event that had run for 45 years on South Canterbury Anniversary Day – a Monday public holiday in the neighbouring Timaru District, but a normal business day in Ashburton.
Johns said she has worked hard to build up the event which attracts thousands to the centre of town on the day.
Johns said she has received plenty of support from the community, and further afield, for the main street market day.
She is not opposed to relocating the market day a block north, between Havelock Street and Willis Street, potentially utilising Baring Square East as well.
“The council have to do their thing I just have to let that take its course now.”
By Jonathan Leask
