[Ken Moss]

I was hoping we could have got the motion passed, had a vote and then a final decision could have been made rather than all the arguing that is going on. It's a vote I would have been quite happy to lose, all I wanted was a democratic chance for the traders to decide their own fate.

Gynn, the idea is not to force closure or opening of the Market Hall on Wednesdays, just to stop forcing the traders. Some want Wednesday opening, some want to be selective about it when it suits them as is the adaptive nature of all those who are self-employed.

Wednesdays in Hyndburn are traditionally the day of the week where shops are closed or only open for half of the day and trying to change that by saying that it is the 21st century and 'Tesco doesn't do it' are rather flimsy arguments. I will once more point to Bury for an example of a market which certainly has no need for 6-day trading.

Opening longer hours doesn't mean more trade and I fail to see that people will be more inclined to shop on Wednesday at the Market Hall than Saturday. The upstairs units are open 6 days, several stalls want to be open 6 days, many of the others would like the option of being able to open a sixth day without being forced to. The Market Hall is already open 6 days, just don't try and force traders into something which isn't going to work just to save face.

Clearly I have been harbouring under the misapprehension that democracy is a good thing.