CITY councillors have hit back at traders’ claims in last week’s Journal that the midweek Charter Market is under threat.

Stallholders told the paper that takings had halved on Tuesdays since the Market Place revamp in 2013.

But councillors from Salisbury City Council, which runs the market, say business is “good”.

Cllr Matthew Dean, who is on the Market Liaison Panel, said the market is “thriving” and the council has “waiting lists as long as your arm”.

He said: “It is there and it is fully booked. We are not having any feedback that there are any problems because everyone is turning up and paying their whack.

“We must be the only market in the country where we meet with traders.

Everybody is invited to come along to those meetings and they don’t, apart from a few people who tell us they are happy.”

Cllr Dean said footfall counts had been taken during the Christmas market which showed an increase in people, however the council has not undertaken any survey outside of December.

When asked how many traders had quit due to poor trading he responded by saying “none”.

“The turnover is minimal, the bulk of the people who leave retire,” he added. “They don’t say they are not making any money.

“They can come see us at any time and nobody has seen me and said my turnover has halved.

“The proof in the pudding is they are not dropping out.”

The chairman of the Market Liaison Panel, John Walsh, said he was “surprised to see the report – pointing out trade was often weather dependent”.

He said: “These are the ups and downs of the market which are the same for any business.

“Ideas on improving the market are always very welcome and I hope traders will use that avenue in future.”

Amanda Newbery, chairman of the Salisbury Business Improvement District, said hopefully positive change could come out of the market traders’ concerns.

She said: “I speak to the businesses around the market who can feel cut off from any planning of events in their square and I have meetings with organisations such as the festival and I can see a disjoint in our markets and events delivery in this most prized commercial area of our city.

“I hope we can find a way through to being ambitious and aspirational in our plans and let nothing stand in the way of what’s right for our city’s businesses and, ultimately therefore, our residents.”