IT'S all systems go for a regular farmers' market in Tavistock's Bedford Square this summer — the bustling event this week received a bumper cash boost.
Tavistock Farmers' Market Association is celebrating a £12,292 grant from Europe's Key Fund, enabling the group to buy 20 stalls and a trailer to get the market up and running.
Gill Gorbutt, chairman of the association, said: 'We are absolutely, totally delighted.
'It's been a long time coming. It's taken a while to get sorted out, as with all these applications, but given what a ghastly time we have had over these last few months with foot and mouth, there's now something bright and cheerful to look forward to.'
Mrs Gorbutt said the grant would cover 90 per cent of the cost of the stalls — the remainder has already been raised using grant assistance from West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Town Council, local businesses and fundraising. Revenue has also been set aside to fund the first two markets and get the project off the ground, once the stalls are produced.
'Our next step is getting the stalls ordered. We are meeting next week to sort out who will make them and get the whole thing moving,' said Mrs Gorbutt.
She said the stalls would not be used solely by the producers taking part in the farmers' market — they would be available to other organisations for community events.
'They will be a new facility for the town and will add colour to their surroundings wherever they are used,' said Mrs Gorbutt.
The association is to appoint a manager to run the event, which will initially be held once a month on a Saturday.
Richard Phillips, a Grenofen farmer and treasurer of the association, was 'very pleased indeed' at the good news.
He said: 'I'm looking forward to us holding a regular market, so we can assist farmers in any way we can to get over the terrible crisis of the last few months — it's well timed.'
He hoped the 20 stalls would be full to capacity with local producers' food and goods and said the phone had been 'buzzing' with enquiries after last summer's market.
'It's great for the viability of the town as well as the farmers,' he added.
The first farmers' market on Bedford Square was a pilot event run by WestDen last summer as part of its sustainable food project. The market proved very popular and a subsequent evaluation by a member of the Market Research Society revealed overwhelming support from shoppers and traders in the town.
Cllr Judith Williams, mayor of Tavistock, said: 'I'm glad they've got some funding. The farmers have had such a difficult time, it will be interesting to see how the market progresses.'