THIS spring could be the time for West Devon residents to have a rummage in the attic ? Tavistock Pannier Market may be the setting for the hugely popular BBC programme Antiques Roadshow. The BBC is presently in negotiations with town council staff about bringing the show to Tavistock at the beginning of May. Eddie Carruthers, pannier market reeve, said: ?We?ve had the technical director and the programme director down here. ?They are very keen to come ? the big pull is Tavistock being the best market town and the 900th birthday celebrations of the market charter. ?The BBC reckon potentially you get more than 2,000 people coming to the show ? and they advertise it everywhere.? At the moment, the likely dates for the event are May 9, 10, 11 and 12 ? however, the town council has to give formal permission for the show to take place, as the market will have to close for three days. Part of the Guildhall car park would also be taken by the BBC crews, who will be fed in the town hall. Mr Carruthers said: ?Obviously, I would prefer not to shut the market for three days, but the pluses are surely greater than the minuses ? the whole town will benefit from the publicity.? Mr Carruthers said there would be paid employment for 12 marshalls during the event. Flyers are also being printed, giving full details of every regular market trader, lists of normal pannier market opening days and specific events coming up. The flyers will be distributed to the people queueing to get into the roadshow. The council?s properties committee was due to discuss the matter as the Times went to press this week.
