Traders in Leominster, angry that the town council will not back an alternative to the cancelled festive Victorian Market in Corn Square, now aim to force the issue with a petition.

Simon Powell, who runs the Motif gift shop in nearby Drapers Lane with wife Sally, said he and other traders were left frustrated by a lack of support for the idea from town council’s communications and events committee Last Tuesday (July 18).

“There is a momentum to run an event, but for a street market we need the council’s support,” he said.

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“Last year it was very successful, people came from far and wide the feedback was great. We can't just shrug our shoulders and let go our best trading day of the year. For some businesses it could be a matter of survival.”

The online petition, which would compel the town council to look again at the matter, is edging towards 500 signatures, while physical petitions in the town are thought to take the tally well beyond that figure.

Last month the town council announced that planned roadworks in and around the square meant the Victorian street market, along with Christmas light switch-on, could not go ahead.

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“There are alternative options where events could be held,” Mr Powell said. “But rather than engage in that conversation the town council is just saying, we aren't doing it. It beggars belief.”

Chair of the communications and events committee Coun Trish Marsh said the council “is working closely with local partners to develop an alternative calendar of events to support our businesses and community during the festive period, and to reduce the impact of any disruption caused by construction works”.

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The council instead plans a Winter Wonderland in the Secret Garden behind its Corn Square offices, while a Light up Leominster event “will run on three weekday evenings in late November”, Coun Marsh said.

The dates for the town centre works “are not in our hands and have not yet been confirmed”, she added.

A delay to their start will allow the popular Leominster Food Fayre to go ahead in the square on Saturday September 2.