Campaign to protect future of farmers’ markets

CELEBRITY chef Darina Allen has joined the chorus of May Day calls to protect the future of farmers’ markets under threat of extinction from legislation due to take effect next month.

A ‘use it or lose it’ clause in the 1995 Casual Trading Act will automatically extinguish the market rights of hundreds of towns and villages around the country unless they stage a market between now and the end of April.

As many as 300 identified villages and towns are set to lose their automatic status as market towns or fair venues on May 1, but those campaigning to save the ancient tradition believe the true number runs into thousands.