A COMMUNITY market which a business owner has described as ‘exactly what Ottery needs’ is unlikely to take place again until next year.

The Mill Street market, which attracted around 20 traders each month, was reluctantly suspended by the Town Council in July after problems when parking made it impossible to run.

Councillor John Harding, who played a key role in organising the monthly event, said he would be meeting with Devon County Council (DCC) later this month and hoped to address the concerns raised by Mill Street residents.

He added: “But, even if everything was resolved with DCC today the market takes several months to organise.

“Hopefully we will be able to start it again in the New Year, with a fresh approach and taking in to account the feedback we’ve received.”

Matt Hurst, who runs the Ottery Fishmonger on Mill Street, said he spoke to several people who travelled to the town especially for the August market and were disappointed to find it had been cancelled.

He added: “I took three times more money than normal when the last market was on – it’s unbelievable the difference it made.

“It would be really nice to see it started again and I’d be happy to see it happen more than once a month.

“It brings extra people to the town and it’s exactly what Ottery needs.”

What are your experiences of the street market? Do you think it was a benefit to the town? Email harvey.gavin@archant.co.uk