 People can find it difficult to access fruit and vegetables |
People in one of Wales' most deprived communities are getting their own market to make sure they can buy regular supplies of fruit and vegetables. Caia Park in Wrexham is the largest local authority housing estate ever built in Wales and is home to almost 14,000 people.
The estate contains two of the most deprived wards in north Wales with unemployment amongst men running at around 16%. Last summer the estate was the focus of two nights of violence when locals clashed with Iraqi Kurds.
Many people on the estate are unable to buy regular supplies of healthy food because they cannot afford to run cars to go to the supermarket.
"Many residents have transport problems and cannot get into town," said Wrexham town centre manager Ken Barney who has helped organise the event.
Dozens of stall holders braved the snow on Friday to attend the first weekly market at the Queensway Centre in Caia Park.
One stallholder said around 150 people visited the market to buy their fruit and vegetables.
The scheme has been organised through the community's healthy living initiative.
They have been awarded �750,000 through the New Opportunities Fund to ensure people's lifestyles on the estate are improved over the next five years.
Health officials recommend people eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to help maintain a healthy diet.
Rosemarie Williams, chief officer for community development organisation the Caia Park Partnership, said people on the estate seemed keen on the idea.
Previous troubles
"They've only got local shops here. If they haven't got transport they have to walk to town and fruit and veg is heavy and they have to carry them back.
"If we can get the market first of all, we'd like somebody to take up a round and go around the estate with a fruit and veg van," she said.
The estate and its residents are trying to improve its image after the area became synonymous with two nights of violence in June 2003.
Some locals clashed with the Iraqi Kurds who were living on the Caia Park estate at the time.
Thirty one people were jailed last year for their part in the disturbances and earlier this month seven Iraqi Kurds were also sent to prison.
The Caia Park market will be held weekly from 27 February 0900GMT at the Queensway Sports Centre.
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If we can get the market first of all, we'd like somebody to take up a round and go around the estate with a fruit and veg van 
