Village market can continue to trade with limited stalls

A market in Sileby that was told to stop trading because it breaches an 800 year old charter has been allowed to continue providing it has no more than five stalls.

The market which runs every Tuesday at the Free Trade Inn was set up during lockdown.

The royal charter prohibits any market "within six and two-thirds miles" of Loughborough market.

Charnwood Borough Council has released a statement: "Councillor Jenny Bokor, Lead Member for Loughborough, said: “We have very carefully considered all the points raised around the stalls currently being held every Tuesday in Sileby and we have tried to strike a balance in terms of looking after the best interests of Loughborough Market and the wishes of the community.

“We have contacted the organisers of the event in Sileby to offer a compromise allowing it to continue trading, providing it has no more than five stalls each Tuesday. This would mean it falls below the minimum size definition of a market, so we would not see this as a rival market. A temporary market, which is defined in legal terms as a concourse of buyers and sellers, must have a minimum of five stalls (section 37 of The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act 1982 ).

“Our decision making has included consultation with Loughborough Market traders and NABMA, a national organisation which promotes and supports market operators, and they support the actions we have taken to protect the rights of Loughborough Market.

“The Royal Charter and our rival market policy are in place to protect Loughborough Market and give us the authority to refuse to permit a market operating within six and two third miles of Loughborough Market.

“Whilst the charter is old it is still in force in Loughborough and other charters are still in use around the country, such as Leicester.

“The principle of these charters is to stop rival markets setting up in the area and damaging Loughborough Market. If we did not enforce the charter, a legally recognised power, it could set a precedent and leave us unable to prevent markets popping up in other locations. This would seriously damage the viability of the award-winning Loughborough Market.

“We look after our market because it has been around for 799 years, it is part of the town’s tradition and its traders make their living from it. The market serves the whole of the borough. The footfall also helps other businesses in the town. We are also duty-bound by the charter.

"We recognise that these are unprecedented times and we have been flexible in many ways to support our communities and businesses in recent months.

“We have never received a request to hold a market in Sileby and it’s also worth noting that we have used the market charter on several occasions before to prevent rival markets from setting up in the area.

“In summary, we feel it is fair to allow no more than five stalls at Sileby every Tuesday as that would not constitute a market. This will meet the temporary needs of the local community as set out to us by the organisers and Parish Council. We will monitor the situation and if anyone has plans to create a market, we would encourage them to contact our markets team as soon as possible.”