'Regular markets' allowed to be held during lockdown in Chichester

Residents can continue to purchase fresh food products and plants at regular markets after Chichester District Council gave permission for a 'small number of traders' to operate a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

A spokesperson said: "In line with the Government guidance, only food products including, fruit, eggs, baked goods, fish, flowers and plants will be available to purchase.

"The markets will be held in Cattle Market car park in Chichester from 8am, with the necessary social distancing measures in place.

"Traders attending this market would normally trade as part of the general market operated by Brays Associates, who are not running the Chichester market during this period of wider national coronavirus restrictions."

The Chichester Farmers’ Market will also continue, while the national coronavirus restrictions remain in place, on the first and third Friday of the month.

"This market is also currently limited to food products and plants, in line with the Government guidelines," the spokesperson said.

Chichester Farmers’ Market is held in Cattle Market car park from 9am until 2pm.

Tony Dignum, district council cabinet member for growth, place and regeneration, said: “We have been working closely with traders who sell goods deemed ‘essential’ by the government to allow them to keep trading during this period of national restrictions, and we are really pleased to be able to offer them this opportunity.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult year for all of our traders and local businesses and we are keen to do as much as we can to support them.

“We know that many residents rely on these markets for their fresh produce and so it is important they are able to keep trading."