Youth Champion-ing!

When I was elected to Teignbridge in 2007, I was appointed the Youth Champion for the Council - a role which, given my young (in local government terms!) age, seemed very appropriate!

I have been very proud to undertake this role, and I have met some incredibly talented and intelligent young people, all with a lot to offer Teignbridge.

Last week, I was part of a group of Councillors who visited South Dartmoor Community College, who were hosting Teignbridge's Local Democracy Day. Schools from across the District took part.

The Solent People's Theatre came along to officiate, and we kicked the day off with a play called "Who Runs This Place", designed to highlight what different councils and levels of government do, and who young people can approach if they have a problem, or want some support for a project they are undertaking.

The young people were then split into two groups, one of which spent some time voting on issues that were important to them, and the other had a discussion about what priorities the Council had, and how they would spend Council Tax if they were in charge.

The event was a huge success, and I was pleased to be a part of it. I'm hoping that next year will be even bigger and better!

Newton Abbot Retail Markets

Source: Teignbridge

Newton Abbot Retail Markets, located in the centre of the town, offer a range of events and retail experiences throughout the week. Aside from the regular Outdoor Street Markets and the Pannier Market, there are also Trash & Treasure Sales on Fridays and seasonal events such as the annual Cheese and Onion Fayre and Victorian Evening, both run by Newton Abbot Town Council.

All Newton Abbot's Markets whether livestock or retail are important for their history as well as to the vitality of the town centre and are still today, essential to the local economy.

Originally there where two Markets held in what we now know as Newton Abbot town. One in Newton Bushel, one of the towns that bordered the River Lemon and that was held weekly in the "Triangle". The other, which was granted by Royal Charter in 1269 in the town on the other side of the River Lemon - New Town of the Abbot, was held every Friday on Wolborough Street. This market often attracted as many as 30 butchers, because there were no butchers shops in those days and the other main commodities were cheese and onions. It was after the dissolution of Torre Abbey in 1633 that Newton Abbot market absorbed the Newton Bushel one and in 1826 the combined markets moved to their present site and changed to Wednesday.

Newton Abbot Markets activities now encompass a number of weekly events. The historic Butter Market Building houses a Pannier Market which offers a variety of stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers to CDs, videos, PCs and accessories. Also from clothing, leather goods and sewing services to pet food, kitchen utensils, cake decorations, electrical accessories and cards.

The Market Hall also contains a Food Hall where there is a home brew centre, bakery, butchers, health food shop, cheese counter, sweet shop and a delicatessen.

The Market Hall and Food Hall are open 6 days per week from Monday to Saturday and from 9am until 4pm daily, although some Food Hall traders are available until 5pm. Additionally, there are Outdoor Street Markets from 9am until 4pm Wednesday and Saturdays. Also on Fridays there are Trash & Treasure Sales, a must for those searching for that something special, with the potential opportunity to unearth an antique armchair, or an ancient Chinese vase. You can also find clothes, shoes, books and a variety of assorted bric-a-brac.

2007 Refurbishment Program

The market has had a £1.8 million refurbishment program carried out which was completed in September 2007. There are now 70 stalls in the market hall, plus 10 food hall stalls and shops around the outside, new public toilets were also built at the same time. The outside stalls were all replaced for the Wednesday and Saturday markets. Newton abbot continues to be one of the best, if not the best market in the west, well worth a visit whether you are local or one of the many visitors we get to the market from all over the country and aboard.

The photos to the right show the new entrance opposite Somerfield supermarket, some of the stalls in the main hall and the food hall.

Newton Abbot Market Traders Association

Newton Abbot Town Council