Flintshire Councillors vote to close 700 year old Flint Market

Flintshire County Council’s cabinet committee has voted in favour of closing Flint street market.

A charter to hold a market in Flint was first made in 1278 – it now looks set to end after councillors backed a report recommending its closure.

Flint market was relaunched following a move from its traditional location on Market Square, it also increased in size from one to over thirty stalls.

However, after an initial boost in the number of customers, stall holders struggled to sustain reasonable levels of trade and numbers dwindled.

Despite a series of promotional campaigns to increase awareness enthusiasm for the market has remained lukewarm.

Competition from large multi-national retail chains, supermarkets and on-line shopping has been blamed for much of the decline.

Flint Town Council also feel the road closure every Friday causes disruption to traffic around and disadvantages retailers in Church Street.

Flintshire operates four weekly street markets and one indoor market but their size has declined over recent years, inline with the rest of the UK.

Bustling Mold market is an exception, it has 43 stalls and remains an important shopping destination for many people from all over the county.

Other street markets in Flintshire are struggling, they are attracting fewer market traders and customers which in turn has threatened sustainability.

Councillors have agreed for Connah’s Quay Town Council to take over the operation of the street market in the town, it was once one of the biggest county but has virtually ceased to operate attracting just two traders for many years.

The cabinet also agreed for Holywell street market to continue to operate but only on an interim basis while discussions continue with the town council over future cost savings.

Mold market makes over £123,000 a year in income for Flintshire County Council whilst operating costs of Holywell, Flint and Connah’s Quay are greater than the income they generate.

The council says that the recommended changes will reduce the funding deficit for the service by £21,000 each year.