Kelso Farmers Market cancelled

The market planned for Kelso town square on Saturday has now been cancelled after members of the public angrily commented on the event's Facebook page.

As reported yesterday on our website, the decision to open the market at this stage of lockdown had drawn many complaints from people worried that it may attract a crowd, several of whom called for a boycott.

Extra safety measures had been arranged, such as a one-way system, security at the entry and exit points, and requests for customers to use hand sanitisers and not touch food they were not going to buy.

However, the organising committee has now decided to cancel the event, owing to the “strength of public opinion”.

In a statement today, a spokesperson for the organisers said: “Despite farmers markets being held throughout Scotland and the UK and working to the strict guidelines required to ensure public safety is met, whilst running the Kelso Farmers Market, the strength of public opinion has led us to make the difficult decision to cancel the regular monthly market for the foreseeable future.

“Kelso Farmers Market is a non-profit organisation.

“Run by a small volunteer committee, a monthly market has been held In Kelso town square on the fourth Saturday of every month (with a couple of exceptions) for the last 15+ years.

“All profits from the market are returned to the local community through various charities and organisations.

“To date more than £25,000 will have been given back to the local community, whether that has been through funding support towards a new defib, the local hospital, pensioners club or some of the town playgroups to name a few.

“As the market organisers we take our public health and safety responsibilities very seriously.

“Whilst we were confident we would meet all the safety guidelines required to hold our regular monthly market in a safe way, and the local authority was happy with all the procedures we were putting in place to do this, we have decided to cancel.

“We were fully aware that in the current situation, people would be restricted on travel, therefore we were only allowing local food producers, who employ local people, to attend.

“We wish to thank all our stall holders and loyal customers for their support.

“We appreciate this decision will be very disappointing for them, especially the local ones within the Kelso and district community.

“Like everyone, we look forward to welcoming both stall holders and customers back to the market whenever and wherever it may be.”