Joint Statement from Knaresborough Town Council and Visit Knaresborough CIC

Published: 05 October 2026

Joint statement from Knaresborough Town Council and Visit Knaresborough CIC

The first month of Knaresborough Town Council as Market Authority for the historic Wednesday market

After more than two years of work towards the transfer of responsibility from North Yorkshire Council, Knaresborough Town Council (KTC) is delighted to have finalised the handover at the start of September and to begin its role as the new Market Authority for Knaresborough’s historic Wednesday market. Now the process has commenced to assess the market, establish the facts and gather detailed information about the market’s day-to-day operation, including information and data not available from the previous Market Authority.

KTC has engaged the newly formed Community Interest Company - Visit Knaresborough - to operate the market for an initial six-month period. At the end of the six months, KTC will invite tenders for the future operation of the Wednesday market. This initial period will give the Council a clearer understanding of the requirements and practical details of running the market each week, enabling a well-informed and transparent procurement process.

KTC and Visit Knaresborough are also working closely with KTC’s Town Ranger, Oliver, and his team. Both organisations are extremely grateful for the experience and expertise the Town Ranger brings to this important new venture for the Town Council. We are also incredibly thankful to town council staff, town councillors and many members of the public whose time, commitment and support have helped the town reach this historic milestone.

The Directors of Visit Knaresborough added “In time, Visit Knaresborough will be looking for more local people to get involved with several new and exciting projects. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out and let us know. In the meantime, it is our sincere hope that people will fully support the market through this period of transition. The market is part of Knaresborough’s identity and has been for generations. These first few weeks have given us real encouragement, particularly seeing new traders joining us and familiar faces returning. There is a great deal of work still to do, but we have an opportunity over the coming months to listen, learn and build momentum. We want to create a thriving market that works for traders, complements our town-centre businesses and gives residents and visitors another reason to come into Knaresborough every Wednesday.

 Joint Statement from Knaresborough Town Council and Visit Knaresborough CIC 05-10-2026