AN attempt to allow a rent-free farmers' market on Bedford Square was thrown out at this week's town council meeting in Tavistock.

Cllr Caroline Keane asked the council to reconsider its decision to charge a rate pro-rata to that paid by pannier market traders on a Saturday — she suggested farmers should only be charged for the services they received.

Cllr Roger Mathew explained under the terms of Tavistock's market charter the council has to set a rent.

Cllr David Stapleton stressed the farmers' market was purely a trial and said the charter was a 'side issue' — the interests of a town as a whole was the most important factor.

'Let's forget the pannier market to an extent, for the sake of expanding trade in Tavistock — that's the issue that really matters,' he said.

But Cllr Ted Sherrell said it was 'crucial' to charge — he said to allow a free market would 'murder pannier market traders' .

'I would be scared to walk the streets of this town,' said Cllr Sherrell.

And Cllr Norma Woodcock said although she totally supported the Bedford Square pilot, as a commercial enterprise the council was bound under its charter remit to charge for it.

The pilot project is being organised by WestDEN — the provisional date for the market is Saturday July 1.