About
LRA
LRA Farmers Market
LRA
started these Sunday Farmers Markets in July 2002 as a way of meeting a
need in the town. We had no experience of managing markets, and we had
no stalls or other equipment, so we turned to Hughmark Ltd. When in
2017 Hughmark were no longer able to supply gazebos for the stalls, we
switched to Essex Farmers Markets, who ran several markets in the area.
They took the bookings from stallholders, supply the gazebos and
collect the rents from the traders; LRA received no money for arranging
the Market.
So
on the second Sunday of every month, residents found a wide range
of stalls in Loughton High Road opposite The Last Post selling a
range of foods direct from the producers. Those who came along
were delighted that this regular space gave them the opportunity
to meet each other.
We’re
very disappointed that we’ve been unable to re-start our Farmers
Markets in the High Road. We work with a firm of market
organisers – they handle all the dealings with traders, and need a
licence from the District Council to hold the markets (unlike the
“Charter” markets in North Weald, Epping and Ongar, which don’t need
licences from the Council).
Our previous organiser closed down
because of illness just before the Covid pandemic and associated lockdowns started in 2020. In 2021
we found a new organiser and started discussions with the Council.
Unfortunately, they decided that their previous procedures for
licensing markets were inadequate. They decided to develop a new
markets policy and licensing procedure, and although they tried to provide a short-term “fix” for the situation,
this was commercially unattractive, particularly as the delays involved
mean we would not have been able to start the market until Autumn 2021.
We hope that soon the Council will be well-advanced with
their new policy and we can get on with making arrangements for the
markets to start later in 2022.
Further
details when available will be provided on
our Twitter and Facebook feeds, as well as our Loughton News emails to members.
Most months, LRA has a display with a
topical theme about the
town, a 'help point' where residents can consult LRA councillors or
members of
the LRA committee and a second-hand book-stall (which pays for our
display
materials and contributes to our other running costs).
LRA
also helps local charities and local
voluntary organisations by offering two stalls free of charge each
month.
To book one of these stalls contact Pauline
