Oswestry’s monthly farmers’ market could be relocated from Bailey Head to Central Car Park as council chiefs try to increase the number of stallholders.

Talks have been held over the future location of the market because of a “significant fall” over recent months in the number of traders.

New figures from Oswestry Town Council show five traders attended in February and March. Two years ago, 12 traders attended in February and 13 in March.

Town council chiefs have held talks with Jamie Ward, a trader and chairman of the Farmers’ Market Partnership to discuss the problem, a report to tomorrow’s Market and Car Parks Committee said.

The report said: “Mr Ward feels very strongly that the reason for this problem is that the Bailey Head location is unsuitable and cut off from the town centre. This being the case, he has suggested that the council consider an alternative site.”

The report said it had initially been suggested the two best sites would be either Cross Street or the Central Car Park.

It said inquiries with Shropshire Council over closing Cross Street between 8am and 10am on the last Friday of every month in order to accommodate the market had shown the plan was unsuitable because of new traffic order rules.

The report added: “However, the second option, Central Car Park, would seem to be more feasible. The stalls could be sited adjacent to the wall which boundaries Smithfield Street.”

The report asks councillors, who will meet at The Guildhall tomorrow at 7pm, to consider the proposal to relocate the market to the car park and suggests the move could be on a trial basis of six months.