A PETITION has been drawn up by Clitheroe Market traders in the latest chapter of their campaign to stop the council forcing them to open their stalls on Thursdays.

Letters have been sent out by Ribble Valley Borough Council threatening disciplinary proceedings against traders who have failed to open for the extra day.

And some stallholders have already been to Clitheroe Town Hall to be given formal verbal warnings.

The market traditionally opens on Tuesdays and Saturdays but council chiefs brought in Thursday opening to try and attract more shoppers.

But the move met with fury from some stallholders who said they would not be able to attend on Thursdays because of other commitments.

Some of the traders involved in the battle have been trading at the market for more than 50 years. Market customer Richenda Ratcliffe is spearheading the campaign and organising the petition on behalf of the stallholders.

She said: "This is not about whether the market should open on Thursday or not it is about stopping traders from being evicted if they, individually, have other things to do on Thursdays.

"We have more than 650 signatures with 75 per cent of those from Clitheroe, 13 per cent from East Lancashire and the rest from further afield.

"There is widespread support for these threatened stallholders from their regular and valued customers.

Ribble Valley Borough Council Environmental Health Manager James Russell said the decision to open on Thursdays was taken in March and the council was being reasonable in enforcing it by issuing the letters and starting disciplinary proceedings.

He added: "This is no open to debate. More than 60 per cent of the traders are attending.

"The decision was taken for the good of the market and the good of Clitheroe. For the market to be half closed on Thursday would also affect trade on Tuesday and Saturday."

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