CHARDS market traders have welcomed a U-turn over a potential relocation of the towns street market.

Members of Chard Town Council met traders last week and were handed a petition against the suggested move.

A Saturday Market Working Group was set up to look at ways to improve the market and take it forward and the council agreed to approve the groups recommendation to relocate the market, as well as proposals to canvas opinion and apply for a grant from South Somerset District Councils Area West committee at a meeting of the full council earlier this year.

Many traders threatened to pull out of the market if a proposed move to the Lace Mill car park in Holyrood Street was to go ahead. But traders are now looking forward to working with the next elected town council on ways to improve the historic feature.

Jim Morrison, of Jims Pet Food, told The News: The meeting was very amicable and Cllr Jenny Kenton explained in more detail the thoughts that the committee had and the traders were able to put their views across.

Some of the ideas were covers or gazebos of the same colour to be provided, the launch of a Facebook page, and looking for new traders to fill the side of the Guildhall and to go over to the other side of Fore Street.

There was an idea to go into Holyrood Street but this is not possible as the emergency services would not have access.

The move to the Lace Mill is now not going to happen but hopefully some of the ideas from the traders will be taken on by the committee and the council.

The traders have asked for more promotion, more communication between themselves and the council and we are looking forward to working with the council to improve the market.

We would like to thank the public and shopkeepers for their support and the petition with 260 names was handed to the Mayor during the meeting.

Read more from the original source:
Chard traders welcome u-turn on market move plan

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