Calderdale Council is stepping up usage of  Brighouse Market with an extra day’s trading.

The council took on the market in January 2019 – previously it had been privately run – and it features heavily in planned improvements using the £19.1 million Towns Fund money offered by the Government for Brighouse.

Full business cases are now being worked on by Brighouse Town Board and council officers for all its components.

In the interim, the council has decided to open an extra day with new opening hours for Sunday being introduced.

The market, at Ship Street, will be open from 7am to 2pm each Sunday for the sale of second-hand goods, adding to existing market days of Wednesday and Saturday when stalls sell a wide range of produce from fish to fruit  and  takeaway food available from the Market Cafe.

During lockdown periods imposed beacuse of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the market is one of several in Calderdale – others include Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Elland – that have increased in popularity and stall occupancy, and the council believes there is enough support for the extra day’s opening at Brighouse.

The council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the market was ideally positioned at the heart of the town and opening it up an extra day was welcome.

“It’s great news that it’s now open Sundays, providing additional opportunities for traders and increasing footfall to support stalls and other businesses around the town.

“We’re passionate about the future of our markets and their importance has been particularly evident over the last 12 months – supporting our residents and boosting our local economy.

“We’re also now seeing renewed interest in stalls and if you’re considering becoming a trader at one of the borough’s many markets, why not find out more the opportunities currently available?” she said.

Caption guidance – pic is fine to use

Coun Jane Scullion