One of the Frome market traders on a Saturday has put an impassioned plea for Mendip to reconsider their decision to close the weekend market.

Daniel Price, who runs Somerset Deli, has not only offered to manage the market himself, if it is a question of staffing, but he has refuted claims that the numbers had been dwindling.

Mendip Council announced on Sunday (January 17) that they would be closing all the Saturday markets, but keeping the weekday markets for shorter hours.

Daniel has contacted the council to express his deep concerns and misgivings regarding the decision.

He wrote : " The official line from Mendip is that there are not enough essential traders to run a market. But on Saturday January 16. We had 12 traders - this constitutes a market!

" In addition to this all the stalls were spaced out, allowing for very good social distancing. Better in fact than trying to negotiate the aisles in a supermarket.

"It is fact, that shopping outdoors is safer, and considerably reduces the chance of infection from coronavirus."

Mendip District Council state on their web site that : " There has been an expected decrease in trader numbers and footfall over recent weeks and months, as such we are adjusting our market opening times slightly - but will remain open daily."

Daniel accepts that smaller numbers of people may be shopping, since people are being encouraged to shop alone, but this has made the market even safer.

He adds that he is worried that since Mendip have not offered a return date for full trading, they may never come back, if the businesses themselves survive.

He wrote : " There is a very real chance that some traders may not return, or simply go out of business. "

In addition to Dan offering to manage the market by himself, has had two other offers of help, from Frome Town Council and from experienced event organisers from the EAT Festivals who could help, again just as volunteers.

Mendip for their part have responded : "We have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily change the council's market offer. Apologies if you feel we haven't been clear enough about why decisions have been taken. But this decision is in response to falling footfall, the decreasing number of traders at some markets and to support the critical work of the NHS in the roll out of the Covid 19 vaccine and testing centres. "