A DECISION to grant £1,000 to help set up a farmers' market in Tavistock was adjourned by town councillors last week.
The request came from the chairman of Tavistock farmers' market steering group, former town mayor Gill Gorbutt.
Mrs Gorbutt wrote to the council asking it to consider a grant of £1,000 towards the purchase of special stalls and a trailer which would be used to set up a regular market on Bedford Square.
She said the steering group is forming itself into an association and adopting a formal constitution modelled on the national body to which the group will be affiliated.
'The primary need this association will have is the 20 stalls required to accommodate the traders when the market is held in Bedford Square and a trailer to transport and store them on.
'The stalls will be for Tavistock, not just the farmers' market,' said Mrs Gorbutt.
'They will not be in use every day and could be used by other organisations of the town that want to have an outdoor activity which requires sheltered stalls.'
Cllr Roy Connolly proposed the council support the association and grant their request and Cllr Caroline Keane urged members to encourage the enterprise.
But Cllr Betty Batchelor did not think all the money left in the council's grant account should be given to the association.
Cllr Robin Pike said farmers' markets were 'the popular thing' and traders in the pannier market would be 'up in arms' if the council agreed the request.
Cllr Roger Mathew had no problem with the principle of a farmers' market but he did not think a grant was the appropriate way forward. He said the council provided a covered building, tables and equipment for traders in the pannier market.
'I would have no objection to the town council investing in such equipment and making it available to a farmers' market, in much the same way,' he said.
Members decided in the light of Cllr Mathew's suggestion the matter should be adjourned for the finance committee to consider further.