Town council says ?No? to reeve?s table levy scheme

A SCHEME to boost advertising revenue for Tavistock Pannier Market in the run up to Christmas was given the thumbs down by councillors in the town last week.

Market reeve John Brady wants to promote specific events and days in the market by introducing an optional 50p per table levy and said 96% of traders consulted were in favour of the move.

He said his remit was to promote the market as a whole but the budget would not extend to specific event advertising.

Mr Brady said his £10,000 annual advertising budget was ?abysmal? in comparison with effective advertising requirements.

?However you advertise a market you go for the widest possible coverage for the minimum cost.

?A good radio campaign could cost in excess of £40,000 ? a good newspaper one would be in excess of £16,000.

?On the small amount of money we have I have tried to put Tavistock on the map,? said Mr Brady, who said Friday traders and shopkeepers in the town backed his levy idea ?to a man?.

But Cllr Betty Batchelor, chair of the town?s finance committee, was not in favour of the scheme.

She said if there was not enough money for advertising in the budget, it was up to the council to make sure there was enough when budgets were set for the following year.

She said: ?I don?t think it should be left to the traders ? I can see some sort of favouritism happening.?

Cllr Marjorie Corner warned the reeve that the budget setting process was imminent and councillors would need to know as soon as possible if the advertising budget needed substantial increases.

Cllr Robin Pike said the innovation was ?a good idea? but urged caution. He said the council could be on ?dangerous ground? if they adopted the principle and with ?great reluctance? urged no further action be taken on the idea.

The reeve, who said he was determined to lift the profile of the pannier market and the town as a whole, will now either pursue the voluntary scheme in conjunction with the National Market Traders? Federation or set up a separate marketing administration using existing banking facilities.