8:50am Tuesday 23rd December 2008
By John Geoghegan
THE Bavarian market in Southend town centre has been called “a disaster” by an opposition councillor.
Lib Dem leader Graham Longley said the market, which was open from mid-November until Sunday bore little resemblance to the genuine article in Germany.
Mr Longley said he was also disappointed by a lack of German traders selling their wares and the amount of litter left behind.
He said: “If we can’t match the real thing, then the administration should forget it.
“The recent market often had little more than five stalls serving food. The German content was limited and the High Street was left littered and in a mess.”
The wooden market stalls sold German sausages, waffles, stollen cake, and traditional gifts, while a pyramid bar sold German beers, mulled wine and hot drinks.
But after visiting two German markets earlier this month in Bremen and Oldenberg, Mr Longley said he was certain Southend’s version had little to do with Bavaria.
He added: “The beauty of a real German market is something to behold.”
But he said he was “disappointed and saddened at the poor effort” in Southend.
But bosses at Southend Council said the market had not cost the council a penny and had attracted people to the High Street.
John Lamb, deputy leader of the council, said: “The market has attracted quite a few people who have enjoyed it very much.
“The traders seem to be doing a good trade and they wouldn’t be if people weren’t enjoying it.
“There was no more litter than we would get anywhere else.”
Mr Lamb said the market was operated by a recognised company which provides Bavarian markets across the country.
Southend Council’s town centre manager, Marzia Abel, said: “It did not cost us anything to organise, but generated income for us and added to Southend’s Christmas attractions to encourage as many people as possible into the town.
“At least half the stallholders were from Germany.”
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