SUPPORTERS of a local produce market are to work on a study, in a bid to get a regular event set up in Ilkley.

Ilkley resident Paula Connor, who sells home-made produce at events outside of Ilkley, has joined forces with local producers and sellers to get a feasibility study off the ground.

She has been in discussion with Jeremy Benn, of local business Wharfedale Fine Cheeses and Bradford and District Markets officers, and traders keen to see such a market set up last week asked Ilkley Parish Council to support the initiative.

Paula, of Ben Rhydding, makes home-made chutneys, which she sells at a regular local produce market in Baildon but asked why Ilkley did not have such a market compared to nearby towns such as Otley.

Local traders and producers interested in holding a market in Ilkley now plan to carry out their own feasibility study, which will look at issues such as where the market could be held and what sort of traders it would focus on.

Paula also believes a regular local produce market could also be expanded into a event bringing out the best in community spirit, involving organisations in the Ilkley area and charities.

She said: “We’re going to put a small team together with a diverse range of skills to undertake a feasibility study.”

“We all feel quite strongly that it’s something Ilkley should consider.”

She and other local producers went before a full meeting of Ilkley Parish Council, asking if councillors would support the idea of a market.

Councillor Paul Kitching instigated a debate about a farmers’ or local produce market, as supporters of the idea believed Ilkley Parish Council was opposed to holding a market in Ilkley.

Councillor Heathcliffe Bowen said there had been a debate in the council chamber about a farmers’ market several years ago and a narrow majority of councillors backed a three-month trial.

The idea had been put forward by Bradford Markets.

The trial never went ahead, however.

Bradford Council said at the time the market idea was dropped, following consultations with ward councillors and concerns about the impact on small local traders in the economic downturn Ward councillor Anne Hawkesworth told the Gazette last week that no suitable site could be identified to hold such an event.

  • What do you think about the idea of a local produce market for Ilkley? Write to: The Editor at Gazette & Observer, 38 High Street, Skipton, BD23 1JU.