WEST Devon Borough Council has urged Okehampton Town Council to back the town?s farmers? market by making a contribution towards moving the market outside. Okehampton Farmers? Market is looking to hold the monthly market as an open air event if a planning application to convert the market hall into a cinema is granted. Funding is being sought to purchase stalls to be used in all weathers . In February, the town council declined a previous application for funding, on grounds the farmers? market was a commercial enterprise and not eligible for financial assistance. West Devon Borough Council has already agreed to give the farmers? market £6,000 and has written to the town council seeking a contribution of £2,000 towards purchasing 25 outdoor stalls, signs and for for advertising purposes. Devon Renaissance Agency has also approved a contribution of £8,100 towards the estimated cost of around £19,000. Cllr Mark Slater urged the council to rethink its decision. He said: ?The question being asked by the borough council seems to be ?Why is the town council not supporting this??. It is the view of West Devon Borough Council that the Farmers? Market Association, the umbrella organisation itself, is a not-for-profit organisation, as opposed to the traders themselves, who are naturally trading for profit. ?I think we have got an obligation to try and help the traders to carry on.? Mr Slater said the benefits of a farmers? market were well established. ?They bring a different sort of person into Okehampton. They enhance the town and the character of the town,? he said. Cllr Tony Leech said the money being asked for was a lot, considering the stalls would get limited use. ?These stalls would be out for half a day on one Saturday a month. I would like to think the farmers? market would make provision for integration into the rest of the town, so that wider use could be made of these stalls,? he said. Members decided to respond to the borough, asking it to pass on a request to the farmers? market to formally submit a new grant application, which could be considered at a subsequent council meeting. Tim Beavon, the borough?s economic development manager, said: ?Both Devon Renaissance and West Devon Borough Council are comfortable with giving a grant to the Farmers? Market Association which is a not-for-profit organisation.? Mr Beavon said Tavistock?s Farmers? Market, held in Bedford Square, had begun trading on just one day a month, but proved so successful it was now held twice a month. Robin Makeig-Jones, programme manager for Devon Renaissance said: ?This is a very worthwhile project which will maintain and expand retail opportunities for local farmers and will enable shoppers to access good quality, locally-produced food.?
