Shake-up for town's markets

A major shake-up of Oswestry's indoor and outdoor markets is in the pipeline, it was revealed today.

The revamp could see the town's indoor market at Powis Hall held one day less a week and a new location found for the monthly farmers' market.

Oswestry Town Council, which runs the markets, is set to challenge Shropshire Council's decision to grant street licences to stallholders who previously traded on the Bailey Head outdoor market but now trade on Bailey Street.

The council fears the breakaway traders have led to the "fragmentation" of the outdoor market on Bailey Head.

Town clerk David Preston said the proposal to run the Powis Hall market one day less a week would go out to consultation with traders and would be discussed at a meeting at the start of next month.

The town council is also investigating whether the granting of licences for street trading in Bailey Street by Shropshire Council has contravened its market rights.