A DECISION to allow a farmers' market on Tavistock's Bedford Square this summer was overturned by town councillors on Tuesday.
They say the pilot project should be housed in the pannier market instead.
The decision follows a proposal last week by the town council's properties committee for WestDEN's Sustainable Food project to hold a pilot farmers' market on a summer Saturday in the new-look square.
The full council this week felt the idea was not acceptable as it might block the open access of the square and the view of the town hall.
There were also health and
hygiene problems.
Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'They believe they have a responsibility to their tenants in the pannier market shops and to their ratepayers in the town whose businesses might be affected by such a market.'
He said councillors were not against a farmers' market 'as such', but felt the square was not the appropriate place.
Nathan Sanders, project manager at WestDEN, said: 'It's a shame. We would rather have held it in the square because the whole point of a farmers' market is that it's an entirety on its own - in the pannier market it will not be clearly distinguishable.'
He felt the council had missed an opportunity to use the square in an 'exciting' way that would benefit farmers in the area and attract people into the town.
Mr Sanders said WestDEN would have to look at its options again and consider the best way forward.
But the decision to site an open air cafe on the square looks likely to win approval — councillors voted in favour of talking to Lisa Hair of Dukes Coffee House and any other business interested in such a venture. Cllr Pat Warne had called for a halt to further discussions concerning an open air café, but her proposal was rejected.