THERE has been an impassioned plea for the Ludlow Market to be allowed to reopen at least on a trial basis.

This follows two successful weeks of a Thursday pop-up market.

“By all accounts, the pop up Local to Ludlow shop last Thursday was a great success with Tish Dockerty and family running out of stuff to sell,” said Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North.

“Social distancing was maintained in a friendly and disciplined way.”

He is urging Ludlow Town Council that closed the market to think again.

“We must do all we can to support our independent traders,” Mr Boddington said.

“People in Ludlow have learnt social distancing. We should do all we can to support the local traders that make our town centre and market such a success.”

But Mr Boddington said that opinion about if the market should reopen had been mixed although he believes that a majority are in support.

Some regular traders on the market felt it was unfair that Local to Ludlow could trade but they weren’t being offered a pop-up market stall.

“In my view these traders should be given the opportunity to trade in the Market Square,” added Mr Boddington.

“Shrewsbury Indoor Market is open, with strict social distancing in place. I don’t see why we can’t do the same for Ludlow Market.

“It would be necessary to use tape and barriers to enclose the market and to have stewards to control entry on a ‘count them all in, count them all out basis.’

“A one-way system would need to be in place. Social distancing would need to be chalked out. Only around half the market could be used. But it could work.”

The councillor added that an issue would be if traders believed that a market with such restrictions would be economically viable.

“Whether it is worth it financially for the traders would need to be tested,” he added.

“If charges for the stalls were waived, some traders might wish to try it, perhaps on a Saturday. I think we should try it.

“I think everyone in Ludlow who shops with our independent traders and market stall holders has learnt social distancing by now. We know that shoppers can act responsibly. We also know that we want our long-standing traders to survive during this unprecedented emergency.

“With most events in Ludlow cancelled for the next three months, we need to do all we can to boost the economy of our town.”