The Friday market proposal is being spearheaded by the Musselburgh Area Partnership and Musselburgh Rotary Club in a bid to bring shoppers into the town and give it more of a buzz.

Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council is organising a seasonal market at the end of November.

Stuart Baxter, area partnership manager, said that talks had been taking place with a market organiser who runs similar events at Stockbridge in Edinburgh and Penicuik, Midlothian.

He told the Courier: “The idea

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is to generate more of a buzz about Musselburgh and bring people into the town to shop locally. It is to try and improve business in Musselburgh - we are not running a market for the sake of running a market.”

Mr Baxter outlined the plan, for which a licence and planning permission would be needed, to community councillors at their meeting last week.

He explained that that the market could be held in the car park outside the Town Hall on the second Friday of the month and, if successful, again on the fourth Friday of the month.

He said local businesses were being contacted about the proposal, adding: “There are opportunities for businesses to get involved in it and there would be one stall available free for community use.

“The market will start at 9am and a lot will depend on when it gets quiet. If it gets quiet at 1pm, they might start packing up,” he added.

Concern was raised that a lot of people would be working on Fridays but Irene Tait, community council chairman, said: “There are a lot of young mums picking their children up as it is a half day at school on Fridays. They thought it was a good day to earmark as there is a lot of movement in Musselburgh on a Friday.”

Mr Baxter explained that there was an availability for a market on Thursday or Friday.

Councillor John Williamson raised the need for restrictions on what kind of goods would be sold at the market so as not to conflict with local shops as had been the case with a previous market plan for Eskmills.

Councillor Stuart Currie said: “The crucial thing is to make sure it’s not littered with diesel pumping out vans. It should be good quality.”

Mr Baxter said: “It is well planned and well organised. We can only try it.”

The trial market is planned for December 9 to see if there are any issues before the regular events get underway in January.

Mrs Tait said the community council has also organised a Christmas market outside the Town Hall on Saturday, November 26, the day before the torchlight parade.

She explained that the idea had been raised during past events to switch-on the festival lights display.

“We have taken the bull by the horns and have had discussions with a business that runs markets,” added Mrs Tait.

The Christmas market, along the lines of stalls at the Christmas event in Princes Street, will run from 10am to 5pm.

“We can only try, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Hopefully there will also be a children’s ride and there will be room for community stalls,” said Mrs Tait.

She later told the Courier that the Christmas market plan had received “good feedback” from shopkeepers and residents.