TAVISTOCK Pannier Market will be open on Good Friday next year for the first time, after town councillors gave the idea the thumbs up at a recent meeting.
The move overturns an earlier decision to veto a Good Friday market. Councillors now believe such a market will promote tourism and boost trade.
Market reeve John Brady said he was ?exceptionally pleased? at the news.
?It?s the way forward,? he said. ?Good Fridays are actually traditionally a very good trading day as far as the retail trade is concerned.?
A poll of regular Thursday and Friday market traders recently revealed the great majority of stallholders wished to be able to trade on Good Friday.
Cllr David Stapleton told members it was common practice for markets to open on this day and traders had put forward a reasonable request.
?I see no reason whatsoever to deny that request,? he said.
Cllr Betty Batchelor said: ?We expect people to come out here, it?s holiday time and we are trying to build up the tourist area. I do feel Good Friday is a day a lot of people come to Tavistock.?
Cllr Ted Sherrell said ?the world has moved on? and it was time to change with it.
?A large number of shops will be open on that day and I feel if it?s legal, perhaps it?s only fair to allow traders to trade,? he said.
Cllr Roger Mathew said Friday was a statutory charter market day and the council should take note of what Tavistock?s mediaeval charter allowed.
?Although it?s a 12th century charter, it remains very firmly statute. It?s important we uphold the letter of the charter, lest we put at risk other elements of it,? he said.
Cllr Judith Williams supported the idea of a Good Friday market, but said Bedford Square, which has recently been used on Fridays by plant nurseries, should be kept free for the Christian services which are usually held there.
But Cllr Pat Warne opposed Good Friday opening.
Cllr Warne said: ?I feel we are being dictated by traders. It is a very special day and we are still a Christian nation.
?I feel very strongly that Good Friday should remain special and I am not persuaded by these people that want to trade ? they obviously need to step back and see why this day is special.?
And Cllr Caroline Keane said Sundays and Good Fridays should not be looked upon as just another shopping day.
She was opposed to the market opening as she felt the day should be promoted as a day of rest and family communication.