CONTROVERSY over Skipton's farmers' markets could pave the way for a neighbouring town to hold the event.

Silsden town councillors agreed to look into providing a home for the market after reading about its problems in the Craven Herald.

The paper reported last month that Craven District Council's community services committee had agreed to hold six further farmers' markets in Skipton on the first Sunday of the month, starting in February.

But the markets have not won universal approval.

In November, Sebastian Fattorini, whose family owns Skipton Castle, told the committee that he believed the town would be best served by incorporating the farmers' market into the existing four-day High Street market.

The castle owns the market charter and Mr Fattorini is now in legal discussions over the council's lease for the High Street market.

At the same meeting, Jonathan Kerr, Craven's director of economic and community services, said there was a strong possibility that the lease may be terminated post 2011 depending on the decision of the committee.

"The market charter is held by Craven District Council and leased from the castle. There are regular intervals when the lease can be stopped and the next one will be 2011," he said.

Mr Kerr told the Herald this week he was in the process of setting up a meeting with Mr Fattorini and his legal team.

Silsden mayor Coun Michael Elsmore told town councillors: "I got the idea to look into it after reading an article in the Craven Herald.

"One or two people have mentioned it would be a good idea, because of the problems of the one in Skipton and there being no other markets in Silsden. Can I suggest our tourism committee to investigate it?"

Coun Chris Atkinson agreed: "It's a damn good idea. It's going to bring people into Silsden. I think everyone would enjoy it."

Councillors felt local shops would benefit from a market and agreed to contact organisers National Dales Farmers' Market.

Alastair Davy, director of Northern Dales Farmers' Markets, told the Herald the town council would need to find out whether Bradford Council owned the market charter for Silsden and then negotiate holding its own market.

He added: "We certainly have enough stallholders and are always looking for new ones. Silsden Town Council would have to look into it, then we would go and have a look at the town to see if there is a good site to hold a market, somewhere of high visibility with a main car park. We generally like the site to be central. We are looking to expand in the southern area."

He added: "With regards to Skipton, we are hoping there are no more hiccups and we have six months to iron everything out."

Mr Davy confirmed other markets in Settle and Grassington were proving successful.