Market Fairs in districts of Neath

"When is a market not a market?

On 13th March we reported: 'When is a market not a market?' and referred to a reader's letter stating that a farmers market could not be held in Clifrew because of an ancient law.  Yet there is talk of future events in the Neath town centre.  Now it appears that there is concern elsewhere.

Cllr Frank Little now reports on this subject: 

"I refer to Paul Lewis's story headed "Dwindling numbers mean craft fair could be the last". It gives the impression that the community council gave the go-ahead for the market in defiance of county borough advice. My recollection of the meetings of Coedffranc CC of 1st September and 20th October 2010 when the matter was discussed is as follows: at the first meeting, it was I who raised the question of the six-and-two-third-miles rule, being aware of the recent refusal of the county borough council to sanction a similar market in Cilfrew; that the clerk to the council then sought advice from the county borough; and that it was in the light of that advice that the market was approved.

Minute 8110 of that second meeting reads: "The Clerk reported that she had received a letter from NPTCBC regarding the proposed Craft and Produce Fair  Resolved: That the Craft Fair is given permission to go ahead." As I recall, that letter was distinctly non-committal.

For the record, I am in favour of local markets and am sorry to see the falling-off in support for Skewen's. I am not standing for Coedffranc in May, so this letter is clearly not part of a re-election campaign but an attempt to put facts straight."

Report by:
Frank Little - Ougoing councillor for Coedffranc East Central

We thank Cllr Frank Little for this report and hope it will stimulate thought for future events where communities can get together on a regular basis.   Local events may be considered to be environmentally friendly with little or no travelling. 

Here's a thought!   How about all these car boot events?  Are they not some type of fayre?   Maybe parking a car alongside your stall may put the event into an acceptable category?   What are your views?