[Madhatter]

The co-op is a moajor retailer of fair trade in this country and I d on't think the products are that expensive. As for the council doing it, A) councils have to be seen to be doing the right thing, wasting money is one thing but paying a bit extra for planters made of recycled materials or fair trade coffee is acceptable to most people because they should be setting an example, BUT only as long as it's only slightly more expensive. B) they're supporting this fair trade town thing by doing this, which will promote the town. Any badge promotes a town, fair trade town, britain in bloom winner, book town, antique town, as do events, some events even create a badge for a town brerton teddy bear festival or Witherley scarecrow festival for example. A badge raises the profile of a town, promotes a town, encourages more visitors, more tourists, raises the residents pride in a town, civic pride.
Also you need to start looking at ways to promote your town to tourists, your a small town inbetween a group of big towns, your a perfect tourist town, you just need to make use of what you've got and get direction.