There is no doubt Bradford’s markets are one of its assets, providing great-value goods and fresh produce for those who live, work and shop in the city.

They have been praised in Parliament, and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s local Ministry of Food branch is said to source most of its supplies from nearby stalls.

However, these traders are not immune from the recession and are especially conscious of the need to look after their businesses at present.

Now 50 based in the Oastler Centre have raised concerns over the staging of special outdoor markets in the city which they claim hit their takings.

The Council organises these to attract extra shoppers into Bradford, the idea being that people will also spend money with resident traders – including those in the permanent markets.

If the stall holders are right and one-off markets are damaging their businesses, maybe the Council should look at different ways of bringing more customers into the city.

Or it might be necessary to insist that any guest stalls sell different goods to those on offer at our permanent markets – although that often seems to be the case already.

It is also, of course, possible the traders are wrong or that the overall benefits to the city as a whole outweigh any downside.

What the Council needs to do is explain exactly what facts and figures it is basing its strategy of temporary markets on so we all know the true picture.

And if it does not have such information, it should get it quickly – as local traders’ futures could be at stake.