Llandrindod Wells Town Council has launched a public consultation to find out what people think about the idea of a monthly street market.

They want residents, retailers and traders to tell them what they think to gauge if there is support for a market on Middleton Street.

Town clerk Jane Johnston said: “At this stage the town council is looking at an idea of possibly closing off Middleton Street one Saturday a month for a street market for street traders. We would envisage that this would be for six to eight monthly events.

“The reason why the Town Council is considering having a street market on a Saturday is because that is the quietest trading day on Middleton Street, with the least footfall, and it is also a quiet time for traffic and parking levels. It is also perceived that there would also be more tourists in the area on a Saturday.”

To help them in looking into the viability of the project they are urging people to fill in a survey and give them some feedback on the idea.

The survey asks if the respondent would support the idea of a monthly street market, whether it would raise the perceived standing of the town in Mid Wales, if there are any particular stalls they would like to see, and how likely would they be to support the market.

People will also be asked how far they would be prepared to travel to visit the market, if they would be interested in volunteering to be a marshal for a day, and whether they would like to see the existing Friday market expanded.

Existing traders will be asked whether a street market would have a positive or negative effect on their business, if a traffic free pedestrian market day would have a positive effect on their business, whether there is adequate parking in town if Middleton Street was closed off for the day, and whether a street market would attract enough people to warrant closing off Middleton Street.

Potential street traders and stall holders will be asked if they would support the idea of a monthly market, whether it would be economically viable for them to bring a stall, set it up and take it down at the end of the day, what size pitch they would want, which day of the week would be best for a street market, what they would be selling, how many market days a year would they prefer, what would encourage or discourage them to be a regular stall holder and any other information.

Buoyed by the success of the recent Christmas market which was organised in a few days, town councillors agreed to look into holding a monthly market in Middleton Street to attract shoppers.

Councillor Jamie Jones said the recent Christmas market was a really nice day and he came up with the idea of a Saturday market.

“At the moment the only thing bringing people into the town is the Metropole Hotel and the lake and with the likes of the Victorian Festival cutting back, the town is missing an identity. I just thought if we had a market or other traders to bring people in.

“I was down in Middleton Street the other Saturday and it was dead. It should be the busiest day of the week.”

Councillor David Markinson agreed and said; “I think a market would be a good idea, research shows footfall goes up when there is a market in town and there would be a lot of benefits for local traders.”

Councillor Steve Deeks-D’Silva said there is a monthly artisan market at the Pavilion and a weekly market and he would not want to affect those.

To take part in the survey visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/95TGVJJ.

A paper copy can be obtained from Llandrindod Wells Town Council, Old Town Hall, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells or email admin@llandrindodtowncouncil.co.uk.

The closing date is March 1 2025.