Bid for farmers’ market rejected

The request was made to Dronfield Town Council by a local businesswoman, who said that she had received support from other businesses in the area for a new farmers market.

But the council was told by its leader, Coun Simon Temple, that a farmers’ market could lead to the existing town market being adversely affected and even the closure of local shops.

Coun Graham Baxter, who is also leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “This could be the death knell of more traders in the town because there are already empty shops in Dronfield and some other businesses are struggling to survive.”

Coun Doug Oxspring said he feared that a farmers’ market could develop into a market that had nothing to do with farmers – and farmers keen to sell their produce could take stalls at the existing town market.

Dronfield Town Council unanimously rejected the request for a farmers’ market.