Market ‘should keep date’

PORTHMADOG market should not move from Fridays to Thursdays, according to members of a council committee.

At the request of some of its stallholders, Gwynedd’s general licensing committee was asked to discuss a bid to move the town’s market day to avoid it clashing with Bangor, which is also on Fridays.

But committee members say arrangements should remain as they are, feeling a clash with Barmouth’s Thursday market would be worse. A local member for Porthmadog, Cllr Selwyn Griffiths, had urged the committee to keep to Fridays, having himself canvassed stallholders and customers.

According to the report to members, seven stallholders were in favour of the change, with nine wanting to see the current arrangements remain.

However, the committee was later told several had subsequently changed their mind, with a clear majority wanting to keep the present arrangements.

The consultation report noted: “The public are used to Friday: there is a possibility existing traders will lose regular customers and the business they have worked hard to build up.”

However, it also found: “There is a possibility of attracting new traders on a Thursday.”

The final decision will be by the council’s cabinet, but Cllr Angela Russell thanked officers for allowing the committee to have its say.

Porthmadog market is at Heol y Parc car park 8.30am to 5pm, from the first Friday before Good Friday until the last Friday in December.