Inconsiderate market traders in Chippenham Town Center. I cant believe the inconsideration of a MINORITY of the market stall holders in Chippenham Town center. i am of course refering to the ones who set up close to the fron of the existing shops, limiting the flow of people and preventing people comeing and going from the shops easily.

The latest offender this morning is a woman selling soft toys and throws, who has set up righ outside starbucks. She has left bearly a meter at the narrowest point (By the pillar) for anybody to get through. Someone with a wheelchair or mobility scooter would struggle to get through.

Not to mention that if Starbucks had a reason to evacuate the shop, there is now very limited room for people to escape through. I did politely ask then to allow more room, but I have just been completely ignored.

This minority is harming the reputation of all the market store holders.

I imagine the market inspector tells them where to set up. I had a similar thing many years ago when I run a sports shop in the high street and there was some craft show or something with stalls all down the street and our shop front was virtually shut off.

The market inspectors in Chippenham are useless anyway, a friend of mine that owns an egg producing farm wasn't allowed to have a stall on the market because the fruit and veg man sold eggs!!

Finally a response from the council.

Dear Mr Hudson,
 
Apologies for the delay in responding to your complaint. This issue has also been highlighted to us by Starbucks who I spoke with last week. The markets officer took measurements on Sat 5th November and we are investigating the stall placement as this section of pavement is narrow and we appreicate that large stalls in this area would cause issues.
 
We are currently working with our Highways Department reviewing alternative locations for the stalls near Starbucks and will endevaour to ensure that the market continues to add value to Chippenham but does not cause inconvience to the public and businesses.
 
I am visiting the site this weekend with the markets officer to assess the issues for myself with a view to finding the right solution.
 
Regards
 
Tom Ince

It seems this morning, that a representative from the council asked the stall holders to move away from the shop frontage, which they did by a couple of inches, only for them to move back even closer, once he had gone.

There is plenty of room up the top end of town by the Bus Station and Taxi Rank, why do they have to crowds the other shops.

Here is my reply to them

"Dear Mr Ince,

Thank you for your reply dated 7 November.  I have just visited Starbucks this morning, to find to my dismay, that the situation has not improved.  I understand from one of the members of staff this morning, that a representative of the council had already visited the site and asked the stall holders to move, which apparently they did, only to move them back CLOSER to the shop frontage than they were before.  My opinion was matched by several other patrons visiting Starbucks as well.  

These stalls represent a significant Health and Safety risk, not just to themselves, but the surrounding shops, esp in case of a fire.  How exactly are the fire brigade, meant to get to the buildings in case of a fire, maybe you could answer that question?

There is plenty of room up towards the taxi rank at the top end of the Market Square, why can the stalls be put here, instead of crowding existing Shops and paths?"