White van ban sparks drop Newtown market stalls

The so-called "white van ban" in Newtown is part of the town council's plans to regenerate the weekly street market.

The council says banning the vans will make the market safer for shoppers.

There are up to 40 traders and they are now expected to park elsewhere and carry their stock to the High Street.

But the change brought a mixed response on Tuesday when it was brought into force.

Craig Simmons, who runs DW Simmons fruit and vegetable stall in the market, said many stallholders were concerned that it would stop them doing business as they trade from their vans or keep extra stock in them.

He said: "There's not going to be a market soon if they don't change their mind.

"It's absolutely ridiculous."

Philip Glyn, who lives in Newtown and uses the market regularly, said: "I went out twice, once at 9.30am and it was half empty then.

"I went out again at 11.30am and some traders had already packed up and were going.

"There were only about five or six people there.

"The bread van has to be there because he trades from his van and others use vans for their stock. These aren't vans that are coming in and out all morning, they're parked up as part of the market.

"I think this is something that the town council needs to seriously look at."

Councillor Sue Newham was among a group of town councillors who visited the market during the day.

"She said she had expected some complaints about the changes, which are actually enforcing existing regulations about the running of markets and not new rules.

"There was a mixed reaction," she said. "Change is always uncomfortable, but I feel we are moving in the right direction now.

"There were some stall holders who didn't come this week, but not all of those were because of the changes, some had other reasons.

"Some people did come up to us while we were out, some to complain, but some did come up to us to say they support what we're doing."