Bosses at the Harbour Arm in Folkestone are urging locals to come out and support local business this Christmas.
Bartholomew Hall reports.
Bartholomew Hall reports.
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00:00Cheers and beers. It might feel like a lifetime ago but this summer's sporting
00:05action plus some enjoyable weather meant a bumper season for the Harbour Arm in
00:09Folkestone but as the temperatures have dropped and the rain has started to fall
00:13so has the footfall. This is the first time in our festive markets history
00:19this is the fourth year now where we've had this much disruption because of
00:24named storms basically the weather has really really put a downer on on some of
00:30our traders. The business hub has taken to social media to urge locals to still
00:35come out this December describing the Christmas trading period as a lifeline
00:39for the independent businesses that make up the site. The support that's been
00:43shown for our traders has been really overwhelming and we feel that you know
00:49the festive market only runs for six weeks so people need to come out and
00:52make the most of it. It follows a turbulent start to the festive season
00:56with Storm Dara forcing the cancellation of Christmas events across Kent. A yellow
01:01weather warning brought strong winds heavy rain and fears of damage to
01:05property. Even after four named storms have passed it's safe to say that the
01:09weather this Christmas just hasn't been very Christmassy especially down here in
01:14Folkestone where the fury of Kent's coastal winds just aren't giving way but
01:18some of the traders inside the Harbour Arm say that they're actually quite
01:21optimistic of things looking up as we get closer to the big day. Well we had to
01:26shut one weekend one Sunday that was Storm Burt so that was a shame but
01:32that's for safety reasons and you can totally understand that. The weather
01:35looks all right for next weekend so I'm hoping this weekend is the one where
01:39people say I'll have that. Helen Sharp runs a jewellery business and says it's
01:43not just the weather dampening spirits with the cost-of-living crisis adding to
01:48the challenges traders face. I think my most expensive thing is something like
01:51a hundred and sixty so that doesn't fly off the shelves very quickly but there
01:56is something there which it can be a special present especially if you've met
02:00the maker and that's another thing about being down here is quite a lot of the
02:03huts you are buying straight from the person who made or created the item.
02:08It is not easy being a small independent producer and the more we can all do to
02:15support those is amazing. As the countdown to Christmas continues
02:19traders are hoping out for calmer skies and busy markets as for these small
02:24businesses every shopper could be the silver lining in a stormy season.
02:28Bartholomew Hall for KMTV