Mix-up leads to new market venue

The market was due to move from the High Street to the The Broadway and Haslett Avenue West this month - but now it is to move temporarily to Queens Square.

The switch follows a discovery by Crawley Borough Council that Haslett Avenue West does not have street trading status.

The move to Queens Square is taking place this week, ahead of the area’s major £3.2m facelift.

Councillor Peter Smith, cabinet member for planning said: “There isn’t a specialist Christmas market in the square this year so I’m sure stallholders will be delighted to trade there, especially when our festive events are taking place on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas, giving the square an even greater buzz.”

The council is to allow the Friday and Saturday market to operate on a temporary basis in Queens Square until the middle of February.

The council is also allowing market traders to operate in Queens Square on Monday December 21 and 22.

Councillor Smith said: “Once it came to our attention that we can’t at the moment extend the market into Haslett Avenue West it was an easy decision to move it temporarily to Queens Square.

“We believe this will give market traders an excellent temporary alternative location over the Christmas period and into the New Year while officers seek a resolution to this matter.”

Meanwhile, the council is applying for street trading consent for Haslett Avenue West. If approved by the council’s licensing committee on January 12 , it’s expected that market stalls will move to their new home on The Broadway and Haslett Avenue West from February 19.