Mystery donor pledges to pay market traders' pitch fees

A SECRET donor has given Lymington traders a boost by paying their pitch fees for the market on Saturday.

The contribution is coming from a retired local businessman who contacted the town council, which runs the popular weekly event, to ask how he could support it amid the coronavirus crisis.

The market ceased amid the initial lockdown but during June it has gradually built up again, said the town council, after it waived fees for traders whilst footfall was low and stallholders were getting back on their feet.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “This act of generosity will go a long way towards helping traders who will have struggled during lockdown with lack of income, as well as creating the much-needed vibrant atmosphere of the market that we have all missed.

“The market is still trading predominately on one side of the road to allow for additional space queuing at a stall creating social distancing space. Please come along to Lymington Charter Market and support the market traders.”

She added: “The town council would like to say a huge thank you for the kind donation on behalf of the traders.”

The exact payment from the donor, who asked to remain anonymous, will depend on how many traders turn up and the size of their pitches.

The town council said it was also looking at how it could improve the market’s operation during the pandemic, and confirmed it was liaising with Hampshire County Council to be among a second wave of temporary transport schemes to make room for pedestrians and cyclists to social distance safely.

In New Milton road closures and pavement expansions have already been implemented, but Lymington and Pennington Town Council said no plans have yet been proposed to it by HCC, which is the highways authority.