MARKET traders in Tavistock this week hit out at plans to hold a Continental market on Bedford Square during one of the busiest shopping weeks before Christmas. Members of the Tavistock branch of the National Market Traders? Federation claim it is ?incredibly insensitive? to have booked the European Village Market on the square today (Thursday) and tomorrow. In a letter to the Times, committee members said: ?Surely they must realise this is one of the town?s busiest and most important trading weeks of the year, which many of the shop keepers and market traders rely on to offset the quiet periods ahead?? They said members felt the French traders were being allowed to ?cherry pick? Christmas trade in Tavistock and said two regular local businesses who had stalls on the square every Friday had been displaced in order to accommodate the Continental traders. ?These two stalls have been good enough to feature of the Market Town of the Year poster, but appear not to be good enough when it suits the council?s other plans. ?These types of Continental market may have their place during the quiet times of the year when it is desirable to encourage shoppers into the town. We suggest however, not when they take away local trade at key times of the year.? The letter was signed by the vice-chairman of the branch, Chris Tolley, the treasurer Phil Burgess, secretary Helen Peck and another committee member. But town clerk Roger Howard said previous Continental markets in Bedford Square had proved enormously popular and attracted many extra shoppers to Tavistock. ?We are required to continue to attract people to Tavistock, so that everyone can benefit. It?s a shopping opportunity that is a little bit different and we hope lots of people will come here and see everything else we have to offer too.? Col Howard said he had received no complaints from anyone else about the foreign visitors. The pannier market will be open throughout the two-day Continental market ? it will also be open this Saturday and Sunday, the last shopping weekend before Christmas.