A NEW market three years in the making is set to “regenerate” the high street in Ferndown.

Paul Lewis of Southern Market Traders, the company behind the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Winchester Markets is preparing to open a market in the centre of Ferndown in the coming weeks.

The market will run once a week through Pennys Walk and will have a variety of stalls, including cheeses, chocolates and leather.

Bournemouth Echo: Penny's Walk in Ferndown

Mr Lewis said: “It is about trying to regenerate the high streets. Sundays worked perfectly in Bournemouth before Christmas.

“We tried with the Ferndown market three years ago and came back with an ownership problem. We tried, then Covid came along.

“The fruit stall has been there every week and that’s been doing really well. Looking at the overall picture, if we have a different outlook and go with more local traders, people will want to set up businesses.

“We’ll keep rent very reasonable and see if we can’t build it up.”

Mr Lewis said he hoped to have around 20 stalls at the market, which was meant to start last weekend until adverse weather put a stop to it.

He continued: “A leather stall is coming there, hopefully cheese, fish, ladies clothing is coming, all sorts and hopefully we can bring in people. It is a very good area for a market.

“It’s going to be a Friday, probably 9am to 2pm. Any new adventure with traders I am really excited.

“Look at any high street, they are struggling, we all are. We have more traders wanting the trade, more shoppers wanting to shop outside.

“Our markets in Winchester, the last two months they have been full.

“The traders can survive in Ferndown and I know residents will support it.

“If you want to keep it, support it. They have supported the fruit stall very well, now it’s time to bring more people in and this could bring more people to Ferndown.”