THERE will be no more continental markets on Bedford Square in Tavistock ? unless foreign traders guarantee they will not flout local rules and regulations. Tavistock Town Council has already cancelled a booking pencilled in for this weekend, following problems with the last event held in the square ? and members of the properties committee last month recommended no further markets be hosted, unless they were in pursuit of a twinning activity. Cllr Mandy Govier, chairman of the market sub-committee, said council staff, who had worked ?very hard? to arrange and manage the event, had been placed in an intolerable situation during the last continental market because of ?flagrant? disregard of licensing and highway regulations. She told the full council last week: ?Traders are told very forcibly there are certain goods they may not bring ? they have been informed of all traffic rules and regulations. Then they arrive in their lorries, they have the goods with them, they?ve come all the way from France and it?s very difficult to say ?Hop it?. ?They brought alcohol, they were asked to take it away, but a bit later in the day, they sneaked it back. They are also controvening county rules about vehicles on the square.? Cllr Ted Sherrell said British licensing laws were ?incomprehensible? to most British people, let alone foreigners, and often seemed ?draconian?. But he was also concerned at the level of animosity shown by the public towards the continental market. ?I?ve been absolutely astounded by the amount of complaints I received after the last one ? rightly or wrongly, there was very strong feeling about it,? said Cllr Sherrell. He felt that only allowing foreign markets in connection with twinning events was a good compromise. But Cllr Norma Woodcock said she was ?disappointed? at the committee?s recommendation: ?I know there is some strength of feeling against these markets, but I have been asking around and there is also strong local feeling which is greatly in favour of them. ?People enjoy something different ? if you don?t buy something there, that?s fine, but I know for certain that people come here, see what Tavistock is like, go into our local shops, see what a fine town we have and come again subsequently. ?Let?s not miss the beat, let us be brave and imaginative and not little Englanders ? let us continue with these markets.? Cllr Alison Clish-Green said the town would be giving ?completely the wrong message? if the markets were stopped. She said: ?My impression is the continental markets are extremely popular, they attract people to the town and they come back. ?I know some people don?t like it, but we are part of Europe and I think we should do everything to encourage this, not knock it on the head.? Cllr Brian Trew said he had been ?totally in favour? of the continental markets on Bedford Square ? but if the council was in danger of losing its licence because it could not control the activities of the foreign traders, the events would have to stop. The council backed Cllr Trew?s proposal that all continental markets on the square cease, barring those in connection with twinning events, until the council received satisfactory assurances that traders would comply with rules and regulations. The continental markets, mainly French, have been held on Bedford Square since the spring of last year.
