Reusable bags will be given out to customers shopping at Colchester market.
The handy bag will help support local traders and assist customers with their shopping at the market. The scheme was a recommendation of Colchester Borough Council’s Environment & Sustainability Panel and will support customers of the market to reduce their use of single-use plastics as they can use the bag time and time again.
One of the regular market traders said: “It’s been a tough year for market traders but with schemes like this we hope it will encourage more people to shop local at their local market. The bags look great and are a convenient way for our customers to buy goods and transport them home.”
Councillor Beverley Oxford, Portfolio Holder for Communities, added: “Our market has been going since 1189 and is an important part of our history and community. Although it has changed over many years, the opportunity to trade and grow is just the same. By providing traders with convenient bags to hand out to their customers, it’s just one way the council is supporting and encouraging local businesses.”
This project is just one of several measures being developed by the council in response to the climate emergency. To find out more about what the council is doing to combat the climate emergency visit: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/sustainability/our-strategy-and-climate-action-plan/
Councillor Simon Crow, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “As part of the council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, we seek out opportunities to do things better. We hope that customers will keep reusing the bags over and over, and that it will encourage them to think about shopping in an environmentally considerate way".
Colchester Market is a traditional market operating up to 7 days a week on Culver St East and West, and on the High Street on Fridays and Saturdays. The market is open from 9am to 4pm and will operate during late night Christmas shopping nights every Wednesday on 8th, 15th, 22nd December 2021. Visit Colchester Market open for Late Wednesday shopping | Colchester Borough Council for more information about Colchester Market at Christmas.
The bags have been funded by the Welcome Back Fund, a government grant to support businesses from the impact of Covid-19.
Page last reviewed: 9 December 2021