PUBLIC STATEMENT

The Trustees of the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground Trust issue this public statement in the interest of informing the community regarding events surrounding the Mapleton Hall Country Markets.

The Mapleton Hall Country Markets have been operating for about 5 years at the grounds of the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground. The Markets were historically created and managed by the Trust with volunteers assisting with the day-day operations of the Markets. However, over the past 16 months, while the Markets were held at the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground, they have been primarily organised and run by a group of dedicated volunteers. Over the last 16 months, the Trusts involvement with the Markets has been limited to providing financial support, and access equipment owned by the Trust, and to the facilities at the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground. The Trustees have not been involved in the day-to-day operation of the Markets.

In February 2021, a former Trustee proposed to relinquish all involvement in the Market to be managed by the current volunteers and to be run independently of the Trust. In April 2023, the Trustees approached the current volunteers of the Market to formalise the well-established operational arrangements of the Markets as being managed and operated by the volunteers independently of the activities of the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground Trust. The Trustees offered to gift all the equipment presently owned by the Trust, but used by the Markets, if the markets remained at the Hall and Sports Grounds.

The Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground facilities remain available to hold the Markets.

The Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground is an important centrepiece to the Mapleton and District Community, and the Trustees are more than happy to work with the volunteers and the community so the Mapleton Country Markets can continue to be run from the Mapleton Hall and Sports Ground.