Night market return announced for Walsall
A night market will return to Walsall in March, it was announced today.
The inaugural night market, held in October and designed to boost footfall in the town, was hailed a big success.
Organisers have now revealed plans are forging ahead to stage a second night market with a date due to be announced for March. And they are promising it will be bigger and better than the first.The event is organised by Walsall Town Centre Champions, with support from Walsall Council.
Stalls offering crafts and cottage-style trades are set up on The Bridge, in the town centre, using pitches from the day market.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, regeneration chief, said: "It's great news. We want to try and do something like this on a regular basis.
"The first one was very successful so, hopefully, the next one will be even better. It's another way of trying to bring more people into the town."
Hundreds of shoppers flocked to check out the first ever night market on October 25, when more than 55 traders set up stalls. Those who attended said it had given the town a "Covent Garden" feeling.
The idea of a night market was initially included in Walsall's failed bid to become a Mary Portas Pilot Town under the Government scheme.
But the Town Centre Team pledged to plough ahead with it anyway in a bid to bring something new to the town.
It is part of plans to try to bring more shoppers into the town centre, which has suffered in recent years from shop closures and units left standing empty.
Independent figures released last year claimed Walsall's shop vacancy rate stood at 29.6 per cent, with more than 80 empty units in the heart of the borough.
But, while the town centre has struggled, district centres have seen more businesses moving in.
