By Madison Sohngen

Plans to overhaul a town’s "unviable" market by setting up permanent pitches in more prominent parts of the town centre are being considered.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) could welcome traders back to the Upper High Street - more than 15 years after it moved them to the lower part on a 12-month 'trial basis'.

It comes as the authority is expanding the United Makers of Kent Food and Creative Market currently held in Park Mall shopping centre and next to the bandstand.

Bosses will allow those taking part in the event - held on the first Saturday of the month - to set up stalls in Middle Row and Bank Street after approving £33,000 of funding.

ABC, which is led by an Ashford Independents/Green Party coalition, is yet to decide where permanent pitches for general market traders currently based in the Lower High Street will be set up.

But bosses say they could move away from fixed 'market days' by allowing current and new stallholders to trade up to five or six days per week.

The existing market, which operates on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, is only home to six licensed traders, but ABC says that number "is normally much lower on the day".

It thinks creating more pitches - which could still include plots in the Lower High Street - will encourage new stallholders to get involved.

The existing market traders, which include a fruit stall and hotdog van, would be given 12 months’ notice to choose whether to take up a new permanent pitch, or trade as part of the United Makers of Kent Food and Creative Market.

Town centre regeneration manager Keli Nolan-Lyons said: "The market in the Lower High Street is no longer considered to be viable.

"The aim of the expansion is to increase footfall, car park patronage, dwell time and positivity in the town centre."

In 2008, the council moved the market from the upper to the Lower High Street on a 12-month trial despite fierce opposition.

The move, which was approved by the then-Conservative administration, came shortly after the opening of the multimillion-pound County Square extension, which included Debenhams.

This week, current market traders in the Lower High Street said they welcomed ABC’s new plans.

Hot dog van owner Dave Kekewich, who has been trading in the town centre for 26 years, said he thinks it is “fantastic”.

“This end of town is not busy and no good for trade,” he said.

“There used to be 80 stalls, now there are only four or five on a Saturday.”

Resident Karen Lake agreed, saying she “walks right past” the current market.

“It’s around shops which are closed which is not good,” she said.

“Getting the market bigger and more central will make it much more usable as that area has a lot more foot traffic.”

Police community support officer Ricky Apps believes selling locally sourced products would make the markets more popular.

He said: “A move around is needed. If the market was more in the centre, it would be much more beneficial.

“I like to buy locally instead of going to big shops, so if the markets were more locally sourced, I’d possibly visit more.”

ABC says the funding approved for the United Makers of Kent Food and Creative Market will be used on promoting the event and buying about 20 new gazebos.

The market is run by Craftship Enterprise CIC (Community Interest Company) which also operates the Made in Ashford shop in Park Mall.

ABC hopes the event could expand to “up to 30 stalls over the next few years”.