Published on 3 February 2023
Leaders at High Peak Borough Council are offering practical support to Buxton market after organisers feared its future may be in doubt following repeated acts of vandalism to the float and trailers.
The community owned and run market operated for the first time on 21 January after repairs had to be made following vandalism earlier this month. But in the early hours of Monday 23 January all four tyres on the float and two on the trailers were slashed again putting future markets in jeopardy.
The incidents have been reported to the Police and market managers have appealed to anyone living nearby who may have camera coverage which could have picked something up to let them know.
To try and prevent similar acts taking place in the future, the Council has worked with the market and agreed to provide secure space to store the trailers and float at its Market Street depot.
Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: "We at the Council condemn this repeated sabotage of Buxton's market. It's beyond belief that people continue to target local businesses and traders with acts of vandalism that prevent them earning their living.
"The market is owned and operated by the local community which makes these repeated acts even harder to understand. We support the market's appeal for anyone with any information to contact them directly or the Police on 101.
"As a Council we also wanted to offer practical help to the market and the traders as they weather this storm so I'm pleased that we are able to do that by providing secure space for these market vehicles.
"We want our towns across the High Peak to thrive and Buxton's market is a key part of that. It would have been such a loss if the mindless actions of the minority forced the market to cease trading depriving the rest of us of the colour and vibrancy the market brings. By working in partnership with the market, it looks like we've been able to stop that from happening which is great news for the town."
Tim Ball, Co-chair of Buxton Markets, said: "We are extremely grateful to High Peak Borough Council for its support in providing a secure space for our vehicles at its Market Street depot.
"The Council's support has come just at the right time. Knowing that we have secure storage will allow us to plan future markets, including our special markets, with renewed confidence.
"We have been overwhelmed by support from the local community - both individuals and businesses as well as our own traders - and we are determined that the market will continue to trade."
