Council’s markets: safe and open for business during lockdown

Our markets - selling essential items only - are safe and open for business, is the message from City of Wolverhampton Council during the third national lockdown.

The three markets - Bilston, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton all sell essential goods as permitted under government restrictions. Residents across the city can buy from stalls knowing it’s safe, clean and compliant with rules to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Face coverings are mandatory for all indoor and outdoor markets and should be worn by traders and customers unless they have an exemption. 

Stalls at all three markets include: Butchers, deli, fishmonger, baker (cakes, bread and pastries), fruit and veg, confectionary, hardware and cleaning products. Bilston indoor and outdoor markets, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton City Centre Markets, are open as normal with free parking around Bilston and Wednesfield Town Centre.

For those unable to visit their local market, there is click and collect as an option - check stall’s social media pages for more information.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “We know that people rely on our markets and for some it’s how they’ve been shopping all of their life, they know and trust traders, which is why everyone else needs to know that our markets are safe and very much open for business.

“We know the new variant is much more aggressive, so we all need to increase our awareness. Small, but important actions, can make a big difference to help us all stay safe.”

The council is asking visitors to:

Wear a face covering at our markets – no entry to our markets if you are not wearing a face covering (unless you are exempt). It is essential in many public settings and when you’re around people who don’t live in your household. Wherever possible, please shop alone. If you can shop for others, please do so, and stay at least 2 metres from others while shopping and queuing. For more information about our markets, go to - https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/visiting/markets

Touching products at markets - Coronavirus is contagious, when shopping only touch products that you plan to purchase, if possible. And where you can, use contactless payment (paying without using cash, notes or a keypad). If you must handle money, use hand sanitizer straight after paying.

Cllr Evans continued: “Markets are an important part of Wolverhampton’s history and a popular way to shop, which is why we are reminding people to keep to the government guidance to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Thankfully, we don’t see a lot of non-compliance of the restrictions at our markets, but where we do, it will be challenged.”

Find out what to expect before you visit - www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/visiting/markets - when visiting our markets take advantage of free parking around Bilston and Wednesfield Town Centre.

Market opening times are:

Bilston Market (indoor and outdoor)

Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 8.00am – 4.00pm

Wednesfield Market

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 8.00am to 3.30pm

Wolverhampton Market

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 7.30am to 4.00pm.

The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus

Further details of the lockdown restrictions and FAQs, are available here - www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/covidalert