A CONTINENTAL market that came to Rutherglen last Thursday was a “missed opportunity,” according to the local MP.
The market was set up on the Main Street, with many locals shocked to see it in operation with no prior warning.
South Lanarkshire Council granted an application to Continental Market’s Ltd, based in Dunfermline, to hold the event, but the Reformer was unable to contact them.
Continental markets are becoming increasingly popular, and are seen as a good way of bringing business to a town centre as well as offering locals a more varied and wider selection of goods.
Tom Greatrex MP is now trying to track down the company behind it to see if they have any further plans in the town.
He said: “I don’t know anyone who knew of this in advance which is a real shame because this is exactly the kind of thing that can encourage people to spend money in local shops. I know from other places it’s a good way of pulling people in, especially at this time of year.
“It’s potentially a missed opportunity which is a real shame. Anything that brings people into local shops is a good thing.”
The event was mentioned on Twitter, with opinion being in favour of it.
Continental markets are usually requested by a town to help boost the economy, although it is not clear why this one arrived in Rutherglen. The owners of the shopping centre, Moorgrath, said they had no knowledge of it.
Not everyone was enthused with the market. Chair of Rutherglen Community Council, Tommy Rooney, said he hadn’t got the impression the stalls were selling unique goods or items that were out of the ordinary.
He added: “They seemed to be selling sweets and odds and ends, stuff you could get in shops along the Main Street.
“They didn’t appear to be selling anything you couldn’t already get.”
