ANGRY traders in Okehampton?s Charter Market say they will be forced to reduce their pitch sizes or leave the market altogether when a rate rise comes into effect next month.

In a letter to Okehampton town clerk Don Bent and town councillors, signed by nine regular market traders, an appeal was made for the increase by 90p to £4.50 a day to be reconsidered.

The letter states the majority of the traders cannot carry such a rate increase, at least until proposed advertising ?which they welcome ? bears fruit.

The letter warns that if the increase goes ahead ?at least nine of the traders, including Saturday traders, will be forced to reduce their pitch sizes, and some will be forced to leave?.

The traders say the rise is badly timed, with the lean winter months ahead, and does nothing to repay those traders who have remained loyal to the market.

The council argues the rate is still favourable in comparison with other markets, although traders say it is comparing other thriving markets such as Tavistock, with an underdeveloped market like Okehampton.

The letter states: ?We fully understand that we must be brought in line with other markets, but you must be aware that we do not have the number of people coming through that they do.?

In their letter, the traders say if the proposed advertising and notice boards succeed in bringing more people into a resurgent market, they would be in a better position to pay more in table rents.

The decision to increase the rates was taken by the council last month, but traders had appealed for five councillors to make a written resolution to reverse the decision.

The letter was read out at Monday?s meeting of the policy and resources committee, but no such written notice was

forthcoming. Market charges are due to increase from September 1, by 90p to £4.50 per day, but Mr Bent said the increase was calculated following research into charges at other similar-sized markets in Devon and Cornwall.

Mr Bent said bearing in mind the last ?minimal increase? in rents had been in 1998 , the council felt a rise of 90p a table a day, was a ?realistic increase?.

He said the implementation of this had already been delayed from April, while an action plan for the future of the market was drawn up.

Mr Bent said the rise in market charges was part of an overall strategy to revitalise Okehampton?s market and provide a variety of different stalls and themes.

Chairman of the policy and resources committee Cllr Tony Leach told the meeting the rise came about as a result of a market review carried out last year.

?The charter market was actually running at a loss. It was not viable for us to continue the way we were going,? he said.

Councillors also expressed concern at the situation whereby traders were being allowed to spread across more tables than they had actually paid for, as this did not give an accurate picture of the space available in the market.

The Market Hall action plan sets out the town clerk?s aim to introduce a number of new traders to a series of themed markets, which could include craft, antiques and bric-a-brac and a hobby fair, as well as retaining existing stallholders and ?embracing them in the new-style market?.

Mr Bent said he was aware of the problems markets faced nationwide with competition from large supermarkets, but he believed there was still a place for attractive markets which provided a good mix of quality stalls.

He said an advertising strategy was also essential for promotion of the market.