MARKET traders in Okehampton have vowed ?the fight will go on? to prevent the historic market hall being converted into a cinema ? despite planning approval for the scheme last week. Traders were given notice to quit the hall by Okehampton Town Council several months ago, but say they want to stay despite the cinema option having been endorsed by West Devon Borough Council planners. Barry Powlesland, from Crediton, whose wife Pam has previously run the market, said traders were upset at the possible loss of the market, and the attitude of the town council. ?It is a market that has the potential to earn money, but the council have driven the traders out. If the market went back on a sound basis, you would get the traders back. We have spoken to traders who would come back tomorrow if the conditions were right,? he said. Mrs Powlesland said traders remained defiant and did not want to see the market hall close its doors on stallholders. ?We are not finished yet and the fight still goes on,? she declared. Trader Stan Richards, who travels from Plymouth to attend Okehampton Market and has run a stall in the town for more than 20 years, said he was saddened by the decision. ?It would be a shame to see it go,? he said. ?This is a market town. I first came here in 1955 when Rowlands fairground was visiting the town and this was a thriving market back then. ?Over the years, you get to know the people and they come here to have a chat. I come just to try and keep it going.? Mr Richards said he had spoken to the town clerk and had negotiated a move to an outside pitch in the main street on Saturdays. ?I think it will work having a market outside, but I think Okehampton only needs two market days a week, perhaps Fridays and Saturdays or Thursdays and Saturdays, it is not big enough for four days a week really,? he said. The mayor of Okehampton, Cllr Frances Luxton, this week insisted the council wanted to see the town?s market continue. Cllr Luxton said: ?We have set up a working party on the future use for the Charter Hall, to discuss how we use that building. ?We have to try to facilitate the market traders in some way, because we don?t want to lose the market completely.?
