X   NEWS RELEASE
NEW OPEN AIR MARKET AND CAR BOOT
SITE FOR GLOUCESTER TO OPEN IN JULY
Gloucester's new city council operated open air market and car boot site at Hempsted Meadows, just to the south of the city centre, will be one of the biggest purpose-built markets in the country, with first class parking, access and facilities.
The market, which opens on Sunday, July 13, replaces the old open air market on the former St Oswald's Road Cattle Market site and will have 199 pitches for market and car boot traders and parking for around 400 cars with extra parking during dry summer weather.
The access road, David Hook Way, off the new South West bypass at Hempsted, is now complete and there are also plans for cycle and pedestrian links with the city centre, incorporating a stretch of the Gloucester/Sharpness Canal towpath.
There will also be toilet facilities, cycle and motor cycle parking at the site and a regular bus service to and from Gloucester Bus Station.
One feature which would be unique among British outdoor markets is a proposed 'park and float' ferry boat service from the city's historic docks along the canal to the market site.
City Council leader Paul James said: "This is an exciting milestone in the city's history and we believe that this market has the potential to become the biggest and best in the region attracting both visitors and traders from a very wide catchment area.
"Hopefully, people who come to the market will see it as a day out and also visit the city centre and take advantage of the many attractions there, from the Cathedral to the Docks, injecting new life, both commercially and socially, into the city.
"It is a purpose-built site, and with the proposed management plan that was a condition of the planning application, we believe this will be a market of which the Citizens of Gloucester can be proud.
"It is also proposed that Gloucester Rowing Club will re-locate to land adjoining the site fronting the canal, and the planning permission allows for occasional camping and caravanning largely in connection with Rowing Club events.
"The opening of the market will fill the gap left when the old Cattle Market site closed in the 1990s to make way for the present retail development there."

Support the site - please use the advertisers.                                                  X  

 X   IN AID OF ST MATTHEWS PARISH CHURCH
By kind permission of Mr Fred Crew
Come and sell your antiques, sporting goods, quality clothing, and other good quality items.
Specialist stalls, music, teas in village hall 2-4pm.
Antiques, good quality items. Traders of quality or upmarket goods suitable for rural trading.

Support the site - please use the advertisers.                                                  X