Having been told to cut back on the caffeine, I like to treat myself to what I consider the best ‘black Americano’ in town – delivered by the cheerful staff amongst the hustle and bustle of Rosario’s in Northumberland Place.
It was there this morning, while catching up with a friend, that I was approached by one of the stallholders from Bath Guildhall Market just across the High Street from where we were sitting.
I have to say our little ‘lane’ was not looking its best first thing – note the discarded chips outside Cafe Nero – but he wanted to draw my attention to the gull-proof bags attached to the railings of the Guildhall, where – he said – they would stay all day.
Not the most attractive adornment to what is our ‘City Hall’. Apart from that, there was food waste on our nearside pavement – spilt during a collection.
Having got that out of the way, we moved on to the indoor market where a group of 20 or so stallholders are trying to make a living. Not the coolest of places, it seems, during our current heatwave.
I went across with my stallholder friend to be shown the electrically operated louvres in the centre of the magnificent central dome in the roof of this gem of a 19th-century building, which, he said, had not been operational for years.
He also pointed out where panes of glass in various roof lights were missing and boarded up. One he said had actually fallen, but luckily, no one was underneath at the time.
Other windows in the dome could not be opened because the operational cords were broken. Apart from the ventilation issues, it seems many parts of the roof leak. Customers have to be careful they don’t trip over the buckets!
I was told the council, who are responsible for caring for this historic indoor market, is putting off repairs until next year, and there’s talk of consultations with a London-based company called Milligan Ltd.
I looked up their website, where it is stated: “Currently, we work with Local Authorities on Urban Regeneration, with Shopping Centre owners on repurposing and redevelopment, and with Strategic Partners on innovative and future-led projects.”
There has been trading on this site for 800 years, and currently, some trepidation amongst the current occupants about calling in the ‘big boys’ to ‘regenerate’ their market.
Let’s see what B&NES have to say.
Always make a point of visiting the Market on my (not infrequent) visits to my home town. This is an iconic site and it is a tragedy that it is not being properly maintained. It would be an even bigger tragedy if it had to close. Come on B&NES – get your fingers out and do something about the place before it is too late!
Thank you for pointing this out to everyone. Combe Down allotments are now growing weeds etc at a great rate because the Council did not save it. I deeply question the thinking behind looking after community spaces and communities round and about Bath as the fights that are made and lost by local people is huge.
This is another vulnerable slightly old fashioned but important place. The neglect often comes when there is a change in mind by the planners etc.
Anyway it was good to see you pointing this out to us all thank you.