A fresh bid is being launched to move Colchester's market back to the High Street.

The market has been in Vineyard Street for about seven years, but traders want to see it returned to its former site.

They are taking Colchester councillor Christopher Arnold to Braintree market to show him and a council officer how a successful market runs on a busy main street.

Jack Mitchell, chairman of the market traders' association, says Colchester Council is losing about £1,000 every Saturday and £700 on weekdays in parking fees because the market is on the car park.

Mr Mitchell said the market's position means it does not get passing trade.

Mr Arnold (Con, Great and Little Horkesley) said: "I would very much like to see the market moved back, but it is a question of how we would get rid of the traffic. There are 9,000 vehicles going down the High Street every Saturday."

He said every other possible site in the town centre had been explored in depth and rejected.

"I don't think pedestrianisation is the answer for the High Street. The shops need access as do disabled drivers.

"But we can adopt a different traffic flow pattern to close the High Street just on Saturdays. But that is just in the theory stage at the moment."

Colchester market manager Dave Barham said the possibility of moving the market back to the High Street has been looked at in the past.

"There were objections raised by the police on safety grounds and, until those safety issues have been rectified, it can't move back."

By Stephen Rawlins

Reporter's e-mail: stephen_rawlins@thisisessex.co.uk

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