WATCHET traders were up in arms this week over a licensing application from community interest company the Onion Collective to run a three-day Christmas market on its £7 million East Quay site.

“This is another attempt to take trade away from the town centre,” said chamber of trade (WACET) chairman John Richards, “especially as no-one else has been consulted or asked.”

If the licence is granted, the market would be held on December 3, 4 and 5, selling paintings, jewellery, woodwork and other creative items.

WACET this week sent a letter of objection to Somerset West and Taunton Council licensing committee, which is set to discuss the application for up to 15 stalls.

Mr Richards said more than £35,000 had been spent making the town centre better for shoppers, encouraging new visitors and putting on special events and the Onions Collective market application was for the first weekend of free Christmas parking.

“I see this application as another blow to our businesses - public money has been used to create a cafe in competition with town centre businesses already,” Mr Richards added.

He said that a poll of WACET members showed that 12 were against the OC application, three in favour and three neutral. “One point that came out most was the lack of consultation/communication over the matter,” he said.

In response to objections to the market application, an Onion Collective spokesperson told the Free Press: “As a local employer and member of WACET

we are exhausted and upset by the continuing unwarranted and personal attacks on the Onion Collective by the chairman of the Chamber of Trade who seems determined to create anger and division at every juncture.

“We are simply asking for a weekend licence to host a small arts and crafts market for local tradespeople at Christmas time and it feels astonishing and, to be honest, a bit weird, that an organisation that’s supposed to support business and trade, instead wants to stop it – at least when it’s anything to do with us.”

The spokesperson added: “We, and most other people in town, are increasingly bored and frustrated by his animosity and are beginning to wonder what his motives are.

“In the meantime, we will continue to support local artists and makers and work to attract more customers and visitors to the town.”

The SWT licensing committee is set to discuss the application on November 15.

Full report in today’s Free Press