A weekly market is returning to Bathgate on a permanent basis after a trial run was hailed as a huge success which helped to boost trade in the local area.
After drawing in thousands to the town throughout June, Lucy Lawson, who runs Unicorn Markets, has won approval from West Lothian Council to bring the market back as a Saturday fixture throughout the year.
The agreement comes before the end of the initial trial period of five weeks came to a close.
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” Lucy told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week. “I’m really happy.”
The market site at the former station car park just off Whitburn Road drew around 4,000 visitors at its launch day on 10 June and subsequent Saturdays have been just as busy during the five week trial period.
Lucy said: “ We have been really busy from the start, even when there were gala days on we’ve had a good turnout.”
Good weather also helped throughout the month but support was strong even last weekend when Bathgate, like most of the country, was battered with wind and rain.
“Last weekend was wet and windy but we still had a lot of visitors. People are supporting the market come rain or shine.”
Bathgate’s last market on the old horse market site - now Lidl’s car park in Whitburn Road - disappeared more than 20 years ago with collapse of the original promoter, Spook.
In recent years the occasional trader has set up on the Steelyard, but this prompted complaints from local councillors following the refurbishment of the area as public open space.
A market’s return to the town has also been a booster for local business. Lucy said: “Farmfoods, which backs on to the market site, has had to get in extra staff on a Saturday and the local taxi drivers have told me that they are seeing more business.”
Alongside the traditional markets stalls selling fruit and veg and “a butcher’s van that sells out every week” it has become a magnet for art and craft stalls and attractions such as face painting. There’s even a mobile key-cutting service. There are regularly 60 stalls.
Unique to this weekly market are the regular 20 pitches set aside for car boot sales. Lucy now plans to hold car boots sales at the site on bank holidays as well as the regular Saturday morning slot. The first bank holiday slot is Monday 7 August.
The market is open every Saturday from 9am to 2pm.
In a report to the June meeting of the local area committee for the town Regeneration officers said: “The Local Area Committee will be aware of the discussions that have been taking place over a period of time between Council officers, including the Town Centre Manager, with the operator, Unicorn Markets CIC, in respect of establishing and revitalising an outdoor market here in Bathgate.
“Local members will recall that Spook, who historically ran the Bathgate Outdoor Market site at Whitburn Road (now Lidl supermarket), ceased trading several years ago.
“At time of reporting it is confirmed that a lease agreement has been positively concluded between parties, to allow for a 5 -week trial market to operate on the site of the former railway station car park, located to the rear of Bathgate Retail Park.
“The market will initially run on a trial basis, on a Saturday, from 9am until 2pm, with the current operator’s aspiration that it will continue afterwards where successful. The first date of trading will Saturday 10 June 2023, running through to Saturday 8 July 2023. “
Each week the market offers a free pitch to a charity to raise money on, and charities can email Unicorn markets on UnicornMarketsScotland@gmail.com for more information.
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