Ref. 11659MALMESBURY Town Council has been threatened with legal action over its decision to stop the Sunday market.

There was outrage from shoppers when the council decided the final market would be held last Sunday.

Landmark Markets, which managed the market, has now threatened to sue for loss of earnings of around £3,000 from the four markets between November 30 and December 28, which it claims it was entitled to hold.

Market operations manager Karl Waldron said he would be meeting with the council to try and reach a solution.

He said: "We hope we can come to an agreement where there is no loss to the council or ourselves, and that is favourable to both parties."

But he warned his firm's barrister had made the position clear and would be seeking legal action if common ground was not found.

He said: "The town council has expressed its opinion and we respect that, but we have to protect the interests of our share holders," he said.

IT consultant John Lawton, 36, of Gaston Road, Malmesbury, a keen juggler, wanted to make some extra cash from his hobby so he spent £1,000 on juggling and kite-flying equipment to sell at the market before the council decided to close it down.

He said he is disappointed with the decision and wants it to return.

He said: "I think the market brought a great deal of life and energy into the town at a time when it was usually quite quiet.

"A Saturday version of the market that would be great."

He said that he will now have no choice but to sell at Tetbury market, but said he would welcome any moves to resurrect the market in Malmesbury in the future.

Mayor Charles Vernon has rejected Landmark Market's claims it has rights to hold a market beyond the November 30.

He said the company was given an adequate notice to quit.

He said: "Aside from the six-week period, no term of contract has been agreed. There has been no contract signed with them.

"We have only received two pieces of paper in the past four or five months and one of them was a cheque that was marked refer to sender," he said.

Market traders had considered defying the council's decision and continuing to hold the market every Sunday until December 28, but have instead taken up an offer to move to nearby Tetbury.

The town council handling of the introduction and closure of the market was called into question last week.

Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce has complained of the poor consultation and councillors have admitted a committee charged with investigating the chamber's grievances had never in fact been established.

Chamber committee member and co-owner of Abbey House Gardens Ian Pollard said they never wanted the market to close.

He said: "Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce is not opposed to a market being held in the town on a regular basis.

"To this end it is contacting a number of market operators to put forward proposals which would be to the benefit of the whole of the Malmesbury community.

The options the chamber is considering include holding a future market on Thursday or Saturday.

But Mr Pollard said these markets would probably not be held every week.

But Mr Waldron said he doubted his company would want to set up shop in the town again. He said: "It is going to be very difficult to bring the market back after what has happened. Traders feel let down by the council.

"The town has not made a commitment to us we have to make a commitment to other places."