A PIECE of centuries old history is set to come to an end in Woodbridge this week as the market traders finally make their move.The last market will be held on Market Hill in the town on Thursday morning before the traders move to their new home in the Turban Centre car park next week.

By Jessica Nicholls

A PIECE of centuries old history is set to come to an end in Woodbridge this week as the market traders finally make their move.

The last market will be held on Market Hill in the town on Thursday morning before the traders move to their new home in the Turban Centre car park next week.

For the traders it will come as a sigh of a relief after around three years of campaigning to move the market to enable it to survive.

They wanted to move from their traditional base outside the Shire Hall to be nearer the bustling Thoroughfare where most people shop.

The market has been situated on Market Hill since the 13th Century but customers began to dwindle when many of the shops moved from the hill into the Thoroughfare.

Market Traders had called for a move closer to the Thoroughfare main as only four stalls were regularly left on the old site which used to attract more than 12 regular traders.

Threats that the market could close if another location was not found prompted Woodbridge Town Council and Suffolk Coastal to take action and finally decided on the spot at the Turban Centre.

The Town Council will continue to manage the market, as it has done for many years.

Councillor Nigel Barratt, Cabinet Member for Economic Development on the

District Council and a Woodbridge Town Councillor said: "While there is

considerable regret that traders feel they must leave their traditional site

at Market Hill, this move does represent a wonderful opportunity to once

more develop a thriving market of which Woodbridge can be proud.

"Like it once used to be, the new site is right in the heart of the main

shopping area of Woodbridge. There is enough space for 12 or more stalls and

the existing traders have persuaded others to join them at what should be a

prime location.

"Anyone else who wants to join in what I hope will become a

real success story should contact the Town Council for details on how to

become a stallholder. "

For more information please contact Christine Walker, Woodbridge Town Council clerk on Tel. 01394 383599, or email, Woodbridge@tcouncil.freeserve.co.uk.