Council shuts down weekly village market started during lockdown because it is in breach of 800-year-old Royal Charter prohibiting any market 'within 6.6 miles' of Loughborough

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A council has shut down a weekly village market started during lockdown because it is in breach of an 800-year-old Royal Charter prohibiting any market 'within 6.6 miles' of Loughborough. 

Local businesses started selling fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and flowers in the car park of The Free Trade Inn in Sileby, Leicestershire, every Tuesday.

But they have been threatened with possible legal action after Charnwood Borough Council ruled that they are breaking a medieval law.

Local businesses started selling fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and flowers at the market, above, in the car park of The Free Trade Inn in Sileby, Leicestershire, every Tuesday

A decree signed by King Henry III in 1227 prohibits any market 'within six and two-thirds miles' (10.8km) of nearby Loughborough.

Sileby is exactly 5.8 miles (9.3km) from the town and inside the area covered by the charter.

The council now say traders are breaching the royal statute which came into being 12 years after the Magna Carta was signed.

Greengrocer Steve Smith, 52, started selling in the car park to help locals who were unable to travel to Loughborough market which closed during the pandemic.

He said: 'We got permission from the pub landlord and the parish council was all for it. I started down on my own for a couple of weeks and then it got that successful I asked the landlord if he would mind another couple of stalls.

'We rang Charnwood Borough Council who initially agreed to it and they said no more nine stalls. Unfortunately, we didn't get it in writing. We got the nine and it became very successful.

'We followed the guidelines and now the government are asking for more pop up markets. 

They're pushing for them and we want to keep people shopping local and we want to keep them off the public transport as obviously, shopping outdoors is safer.'

He added: 'We checked all the boxes and I just can't understand why we've got we've got closed down so quick.

'We're 5.8 miles from Loughborough which is just inside the charter, but the government guidelines are asking for all the red tape to be cut.

'Boris Johnson is encouraging these markets to start. The local village shops claim they are 30 per cent up on sales on a Tuesday because it's keeping people in the village.

'I understand the charter is there because if it wasn't anybody could set up on any street corner. The hairdressers mentioned it to me and the flower shop. They both love it.'

The market in the pub's car park in Sileby, Leicestershire. The council now say traders are breaching the royal statute which came into being 12 years after the Magna Carta was signed

Steve hopes the council will revoke their decision and use 'common sense' in granting a temporary license, with many elderly people relying on the market for food.

He added: 'It keeps people shopping local. I think it is a good idea and they need a bit of common sense.

'The support we have had has been absolutely fantastic. All the elders that come in on the scooters, they can't get to Loughborough on them anyway.

'They haven't got cars because most of them have sent their licence back because they're unable to drive anymore.

'They come in on the scooters and you can't take them on buses anyway. It's a win-win for the elderly, and they're all getting together and it is quite nice to see actually.

'They're seeing each other for a chat that they've not been able to see in isolation.'

Steve believes the council have cracked down on them after market traders in the town complained.

A queue of people at the stalls in Leicestershire, which opened for the last time yesterday. Over 1,000 people have signed a petition to save the market

He said: 'How we can take the trade on a Tuesday away from a Thursday market I don't know.

'We don't even have a fish stall anyhow. We think it's disgraceful now that that just shuts us down like that.'

The market opened for the last time yesterday, with queues of people outside.

One shopper, Vicky Haig, wrote on Facebook: 'I've never been able to get to Loughborough Market. It doesn't fit around work and family.

'We were so pleased when Sileby market opened up and it has become a hub of the community. I do hope the Sileby market will be reinstated.'

Another customer, Melanie-Jane Lane, said: 'I love the Sileby Market. Easy to walk to, don't need public transport or pay for parking. Would far prefer it if you kept it open for us.'

Over 1,000 people have signed a petition to save the market.

Despite the backlash, Charnwood Borough Council have defended the decision to axe the market.

Greengrocer Steve Smith, 52, started selling in the car park, above, to help locals who were unable to travel to Loughborough market which closed during the pandemic

A council spokesperson said: 'We understand the pandemic has significantly impacted our communities and people and businesses have adapted to support each other.

'However, we are in discussions with the organiser and have asked them to put the market in Sileby on hold as we are concerned by the number and types of stalls operating each week.

'We have to consider our responsibility to the Loughborough Market which is protected by a Royal Charter.

'We will continue to work with the organisers of the Sileby market and the Market Traders' Federation while we investigate the options.

'But for clarity, we would not allow the market at Sileby to continue to operate in its current form.

'While we admire local entrepreneurs working for and in their communities, we are required to balance this by safeguarding Loughborough markets Royal Charter from competition from across the borough, which attracts thousands of people to Loughborough and the borough.'

The spokesperson added: 'All market organisers must apply for a license under the Charter, including those running car boot sales and craft markets.

'Markets planning to sell clothes, perishables, or other traditional market stall items such as groceries are not granted licenses as these would be in direct competition with Loughborough Market.

'Allowing the market to continue in its current form would also set a precedent for others which would considerably impact the 799-year-old Loughborough Market.'