A U-TURN is on the cards over a refusal to allow a pilot farmers' market on Tavistock's Bedford Square.

Requests to think again were bombarded at councillors from residents attending Tuesday's annual meeting in the town hall.

Alex Mettler asked: 'I understand this council has decided there won't be a farmers' market — would you please reconsider?'

Gill Gorbutt said: 'I know some people don't like the square but it's a reality, it's not going to go away.

'It is true there are farmers in the pannier market, but I don't see what's wrong with having extra farmers in the square — it will attract people to the town. I do hope the council will think again,'

Jerry Harden said the pannier market ought to be a dedicated farmers' market but was not used as such.

'I think the idea is great — let's put this dead beast to work,' he said.

And Kevin Eady compared a farmers' market with the 'pretty horrible' Goose Fair which was staged every year whether people liked it or not. He said the farmers' market was a pilot — if it did not work, it did not have to happen again.

Tavistock mayor Roger Mathew promised the matter would be debated again after requests to do so were received by six councillors — it is scheduled for the council meeting on April 4.

A decision was taken by the council's properties committee early this month to allow WestDEN to hold a pilot market on the square on a summer Saturday — but it was overturned by the full council a week later.