Cricklade is set to have a market again for the first time for 50 years but traders say the shortage of parking in the town should be solved first.

Cricklade Town Council has agreed to host a farmers' market on the second Friday of every month for a six-month trial.

And, to solve the parking problems in the town, the council plans to build a car park on land behind the Vale Of The White Horse Club.

The club owns the right of access to the land but civic leaders say they will force it to hand over a key piece of land if that is what it takes.

But Bob Jones, of Cricklade Business Association, said the parking problem in the town had been going on for 20 years and he felt it should have been resolved before inviting other traders.

"A farmers' market would generate people coming to town and we would support anything that brings people here," he said.

"However, our argument is that there is no room for a market to come to the town until the parking has been resolved."

Celia Ryman, the owner of C And R Family Grocers, said: "I don't think a farmers' market is a particularly good idea because of the parking. Ultimately, it will affect our trade because we stock a lot of local produce."

Michael Hart, the owner of Michael Hart And Son butchers, said: "It's putting the cart before the horse. If the farmers' market is successful and you get people coming to the town, where are they going to park?

"I doubt a market would bring that many people in, it's got be a good one for that because there are so many of them these days."

Town council chairman Clive Wilce said: "I recognise the concerns of traders but we can't delay when we have had a request from the community to have a market.

"It is on a trial basis and, if it is successful, it will continue.We have an area to hold the market the car park in the town hall or the one at Fairview Fields.

"It would be ideal if we had a car park at the Vale of the White Horse Club in place but that's not going to happen right now."

The market starts on May 14.

Bhavani Vadde