AN HISTORIC market has reopened on a smaller scale following the approval of a retirement village on its old site.

Wimborne Market closed at the end of 2021 after McCarthy & Stone received planning permission for a “flagship” retirement village on the site.

However, Wimborne Civic Society confirmed it has reopened at the Allendale Centre on a smaller scale while a more permanent solution is found.

The recent Civic Society newsletter said: “Wimborne Civic Society were concerned that the town should not lose its market.

“We looked for possible potential sites including the High Street, Pippins and various car parks close to the centre.

“The stallholders have been working with Wimborne & District Community Association to see whether the market could transfer to the Allendale Centre site.

“They concluded that it would be possible, and space has been found for 35 stalls of varying sizes, some inside and others outside on land leased by WDCA.

“Initially the Market will run on Fridays only from 8am to 2pm. Though this might not be the ideal site, it meets the imperatives that it is in the centre of Wimborne and could start on January 7.

“In the longer term, it might be possible to find another site such as those mentioned above but all these would take much longer to organise and obtain the necessary permissions. There are ongoing discussions about these alternatives between the WDCA, the BID, Councillors and stallholders.”