Will our markets ever unite on just one site in Bideford?
He enthused about the "new" Quay and the marvellous trading position it supplied but was less enthusiastic about some of the charges levied by TDC — charges he says are not found at other markets he attends. On the same day I was in the Pannier Market where the Quayside markets are not so popular given that they provide obvious competition to the stall-holders. Once again I was asked why those attending the Farmers' Market do not attend the Pannier Market especially in Winter when weather conditions rule out outdoor markets?
I'm afraid this question never really receives a proper answer as the marrying up of the two would seem a match made in heaven to most but sadly the town council, who run the Pannier Market, cannot force producers to attend their market. Perhaps, as I have suggested before, the Pannier Market is moved down to a site near the Quay and amalgamates with the Farmers' Market to produce a more easily accessible and more high-profile joint undertaking? After all the original market was at the bottom of the High Street before it moved to its present position in the seventeenth century.
T HE DISAPPEARANCE of pedestrian refuges along the Quay and the resurfacing of the road is part of the build-up to the Cycle Race which is due to arrive in Bideford in September.
At this month's town council meeting councillors raised some interesting questions about this. Tony Inch had been told that the various refurbishment works were costing £400,000 — and he was worried this was coming from the county roads budget which would lead to other repairs being put back. The Quay, of course, was completely re-laid a few years ago when the whole area was redesigned. On a more pragmatic note he did ask that when the refuges/bollards etc are replaced they are done at a time that avoids the hold-ups experienced by many when they were removed.
I T IS GOOD to see that the town band members have now submitted their planning application to build a new headquarters on the site of the demolished toilets in Victoria Park.
The plans show a modest building which will give the band the ability to play directly into the Park on a summer's evening — perhaps allowing a combined visit to hear them and also visit the Burton just yards away — with a Hockings ice-cream or a coffee from the Burton café? The proposed new building will not be cheap, but the band has been assiduously collecting funds for many years now and both the town council and Bridge Trust have ring-fenced money to help them, but if anyone would like to aid the group I'm sure they would welcome help. The new building, being on the level, will allow disabled musicians to take part with the band far more easily. I have to say how heartening it is to see local groups, like the band and the rugby club, working so hard to improve their own facilities and I wish them luck.
Y OU WILL have read in last week's Journal that the recently issued Heritage Trail continues to create ripples. At a recent council meeting David Fulford was concerned that it didn't mention Charles Kingsley and also seemed to take people to areas of the town that weren't looking their best — to put it politely.
On these two points it is clear that the Chamber of Commerce, who published the Trail, couldn't include everything. The complaint about the state of part of the town came about as you will have read when two residents of Tower Street complained at the council meeting about graffiti and weeds, pointing out that Tower Street has many listed buildings, is in the town's Conservation Area – and now strongly features in the Heritage Trail. The two speakers were given assurances that the weeds would be tackled in September whilst the graffiti will be targeted using new Torridge District Council forms for reporting such eyesores. I have suggested that the forms appear in the next edition of the town newsletter so everyone (or at least those that get it) can report graffiti themselves — and a rapid response is promised.
O VER the last few months I have been involved with a small group of people in preparing an exhibition on the history of Bideford's two rowing clubs with their associated athletics groups and so on.
My own role has been centred on providing illustrations of past regattas and carnivals and I have been surprised at just how much material has survived. If you want to see the cups, programmes, badges, photographs and posters then the display will be open at the Burton Art Gallery and Museum from August 29 to September 28. As part of the exhibition I dug out a few pieces on the old Bridge Run — where runners tried to race across the Long Bridge before the church clock on St.Mary's struck eight times.
At our town council meeting this month it was suggested that such an event could be resuscitated. One of the reasons for its decline was the difficulty associated with closing the road but with a second bridge this shouldn't be so difficult now.
I attach a photograph of the programme issued in 1950 which gives some idea of just how important this race used to be — and what has happened to the cup I wonder?
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