An indoor market in Twickenham has become more than just a vision, after the creator was shortlisted in the Richmond Den Awards.

Twickenham’s Alan Winter came up with the idea for an indoor market after he started looking for a place to hold a stall to sell stamps.

He is self employed as a stamp and postcard dealer after taking redundancy four years ago, having worked in marketing, sales and commercial management roles.

Mr Winter said: “It has been a busy but very interesting time. Since getting shortlisted in the last eight of the Richmond’s Den competition, the semi-finalists have been invited to attend three tutorial days at the Richmond Business School at the RACC.

“These have all been well structured and very helpful. It has also been great to meet my fellow semi-finalists.”

Mr Winter’s community market would consist of 15 to 20 stalls selling arts, crafts and collectables. There would be about six or so anchor stalls and then numbers of different stalls every day, with an opportunity for residents to hire a stall on an annual to daily basis.

Mr Winter said: “At the moment people who live in Twickenham tend to go on shopping expeditions to Richmond and Kingston.

“The community market is a social enterprise which will provide a new shopping experience as well as providing local residents, local charities and local organisations with a platform to sell their products, heighten their awareness and collect donations while also increasing memberships.

“This really is a win-win project for everyone in Twickenham.”

Mr Winter has his eye on the former Citizen Advice Bureau building in Heath Road, but is yet to establish a legal commercial entity. The hope is to open the six day a week market by the end of 2013.

To contact Mr Winter, email alanwinter192@hotmail.com.