MARKET stallholders have said that an increase in the number of customers is bucking the national trend and people are still flocking from miles around to visit. The weekly Tuesday market in Great Dunmow has continued to attract crowds and stalls continue

MARKET stallholders have said that an increase in the number of customers is bucking the national trend and people are still flocking from miles around to visit.

The weekly Tuesday market in Great Dunmow has continued to attract crowds and stalls continue to sell goods more than ten years since some of them first arrived on the site.

However, the threat of a larger out of town supermarket still looms for some traders who are concerned that Tesco's, in Stortford Road, will steal some of the newly earned trade.

Market manager, Rob Pain, said: "Trade has been really good recently and I think most of the stalls are doing well. We have a good variety here and people come from miles around to get fish, clothes and fruit and veg.

"If an extension is built may take some of our trade away, but until then we will keep going."

Tesco stores had a planning application for an extension, which would increase the store by a third, excepted in October 2008 but no building schedule has been agreed.

The market continues to do a roaring trade and Mr Pain says that the key has been to run the market as a break-even venture. He puts up �10,500 per year to try and keep the same stalls in the Angel Lane car park site.

"I have been running this market for 12 years. I do not do it to make a profit. I just break even and then make profit on my own stall," he said.

"Like everybody else I have been here for a long time and it is good to see the crowds are still coming. We all have quality items for sale and there are plenty of bargains as well."

Traders believe that with so many people still coming to the market the future of the town's High Street still looks good. Dunmow's Chamber of Trade and Commerce has asked Uttlesford District Council to consider a free Saturday parking strategy as a further boost.

Chairman Mike Perry said: "We need to keep promoting the town as somewhere that people want to come to. The High Street still has busy days, as does the market, but it would be great to attract more shoppers from further afield."

GIVE US YOUR OPINON. E-mail us at editor@dunmow-broadcast.co.uk or write to 54 High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CM10 1EE.