Campoamor Market Fiasco!

Today (8th January 2009) was the first day for the struggling Campoamor Market ( Mercado de Dehesa Campoamor to give it is official title) at it's new winter location in Calle Fuego in the Agua Marina area of Orihuela Costa, as I reported on the 31st December 2008.

I say winter site because it (the market) will only be in C/ Fuego for the months of October to May as it will be at the original Dehesa de Campoamor location for June to September inclusive according to a notice by Councillor José Manuel Cutillas Conesa, who has responsibility for the markets, dated 18th December 2008.

I visited the market this morning with the hope of seeing a revitalised and bustling local market full of local traders and customers - some hope!

What I found was a fiasco. Another failure by the PP Council and in particular by Councillor Cutillas.

Of the 80 pitches less than 10 were occupied by stall holders who were open for business. The photographs show the situation better than I can describe.

Let me clarify that more than 10 stall holders arrived at the market before the start of business but many were not prepared to set up their stalls as, I understand, they were unhappy with the unloading and parking facilities of the Calle Fuego location. It can be seen in the photographs the numerous trader's vans left parked on the pitches with the goods still locked inside, whilst the unhappy owners relocated into local cafés.

Not only was there a lack of traders but as can be seen a distinct lake of customers! Why? Because the Councillor failed to ensure that there was any publicity to inform the public of the change of site. An ideal opportunity to promote the market to help it succeed was neglected.

I left the market at approximately 10:50 hrs. as several of the stalls that had opened were being closed and packed away, even before the rain that came started.

As a result of the article on this Blog on New Years Eve I received an email from a well known local journalist which included this statement, “I'm interested in the market story - I knew this was on the cards, but cannot believe that nothing has been officially announced” (referring to the failure by the Council).

What's the good of moving the market and not telling the customers? Do the Council really want the market to succeed? Is the Council going to alter all the road signs that direct people to the Dehesa de Campoamor site during October to May?

It's well understood that a good location is one of the main considerations for successful retail outlets, including markets, so why change from a site that has plenty of space (room for expansion) and better and easier access for stall holders and customers. The reason for the lack of success of the Campoamor market is not the location, - it is the failure of the PP Council to get it's act together to manage and promote the market correctly! Wouldn't it have been better for them to have sorted out the problems rather than just move them to the new inadequate winter site.

Why didn't they combine a 'car boot sale' (second hand goods only) alongside the then existing market, and provide the public with what they like and want . The Council could have done it, and still could, with the correct management, and would have attracted the number of customers that the market needs to be successful for the stall holders. That is if the will is there to, which is in doubt.