TROWBRIDGE could have a weekly market in Fore Street by the winter in what the organisers hope will be a boost for the town centre.

The proposed market is the idea of Ellie Gill, who runs social enterprise Wessex Community Markets, and who is working with Trowbridge’s County Town Initiative and Trowbridge Town Council to make the idea a reality.

Ms Gill said: “I was involved in the Mary Portas pilot town bid for Trowbridge, so this has come about as a consequence of that.

“We need to support traders.”

Although the details are still to be confirmed, Ms Gill hopes a Friday market in Fore Street can be arranged, with a variety of different products and produce on sale.

She said: “Hopefully there will be a farmers’ market section and arts and crafts, but the most important thing is to celebrate the best of BA14.

“If a town can create markets and establish a good reputation, there’s no reason reputations can’t turn around.

“I think Trowbridge suffers from negative attention far too much when actually there’s so much going on.”

Trowbridge Town Council is backing the plan and has pledged £3,000 in funding to the County Town Initiative to help it get off the ground.

Tino Polledri, chair of the initiative, said: “We are very grateful to the town council for making some start-up funding available to support the establishment of a weekly street market.

“This is one of a range of ideas which we are working on to bring more activity to the town, supporting local traders.”

The organisers also plan to approach Trowbridge Area Board, the National Lottery and other schemes for funding.

Council leader Cllr Bob Brice said: “It’s one of the things the Portas people always say – it’ll boost footfall and bring people into the town centre.

“The biggest problem in Trowbridge is that many of the shops in the town centre are listed buildings and are very small. If you start a business, you can’t expand or knock anything down.

“We’re doing everything we can to get people into the town centre and support local traders.”