Welcome back: Getting trade back on track in Market Rasen

That was the message from Councillor Stephen Bunney as the reopening of non-essential businesses and the return of traders to the Tuesday market was celebrated.

The district council ward member praised those businesses who had remained open as lockdown took hold, providing food, medicine and pet care.

He said: “We must say great thanks to all the shopkeepers who have been serving the community and who have adopted all the safety regulations required of them.

“I am extremely impressed by the way everybody has done it so seemlessly.

“We now need to keep going over the next few weeks as restrictions ease further.”

Coun Giles McNeill, leader of West Lindsey District Council, joined with others in the town’s market place to show his support.

He said: “I am very pleased the local shop owners and market traders are able to start to start trading.

“However, as it used to say on the old car bumper stickers ‘keep your distance’.”

As reported previously, Market Rasen Mayor John Matthews, himself a business owner, has given his whole-hearted support to the town’s economic recovery.

He added: “Our businesses have lost thousands of pounds so it is vitally important we look to support our high street.”

Both the town and district council acknowledge there is work to be done to rebuild the local economy.

In Market Rasen, a large number of main street shops remained open to provide essentials.

Now more shops are reopening, it is hoped they will receive the support of the town.

None more so than new shopkeeper Mark Borlase, owner of Four Seasons Blinds and Curtains in Queen Street, who initially opened one week before lockdown began.

He said: “It was a case of open for a week and close for almost three months.

“However, it gave us time to really get things organised and we have had a lot of support.

“Coun Bunney has been brilliant helping with grants and pointing me in the direction of the people I need to speak to.

“We also set up an online service and, because lots more people are at home an decorating, we have done more business in the last two weeks, than we would have expected to do in a month.”

Like other shops, Mark will be asking customers sanitise their hands before touching any items, with masks available for those who want them.

Looking to the future.......

Market Rasen town councillors say they are committed to investing in the long-term future of the town.

That includes making it a welcoming place for residents and visitors.
Pigeon poo has been an ongoing - and unsightly - issue in the town and the purchase of an industrial pressure washer is one solution. The washer got its first outing on Saturday as volunteers took to the streets ahead of the ‘high street reopening’ on Monday.
Investment has also been made on community speed watch equipment which Mayor Coun John Matthews says will benefit the town as a whole - and particularly safety near schools.