Defiant traders have vowed to carry on a popular farmers’ market despite fears over its future.
Saltaire Farmers’ Market enjoyed a good turnout on Saturday as shoppers showed their support for the monthly event.
Traders have said they have been presented with three options from Bradford Council during consultations about how to make the market more viable.
Traders said the three options were to either increase rents, lower rents and traders provide their own stalls, or move the market to Bingley.
John Brook, who runs the organic vegetable stall, said footfall increased by about 30 per cent on Saturday, although he put that down in part to better weather.
Mr Brook said he would be happy to provide his own stall, if it meant the market could keep its Saltaire site.
He said: “It’s such a nice market that we don’t want to lose it. It used to be in Bingley and it was a lovely market there, but it wouldn’t be the same if we went and joined an ordinary Saturday market. I think it will carry on – we are pushing for it.’’ He added: “We have got to keep these things going or supermarkets will take the lot off us.”
John Lord, who runs the pie stall at the market, said stallholders were determined to keep the market going in Saltaire.
He said: “We had a good market Saturday, we had sold out by 12.30pm. It’s a good market, it just needs advertising a bit more.
“I’m not bothered whether we pay a bit more, or we take our own stall, but I don’t want to move site.
“I think Saltaire village needs that and it’s a nice place to do a market. I like Saltaire and I think things like that bring things into the area.”
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