Traders are set to return to a historic market after those behind the decision to break it up suffered a heavy defeat at the local elections.

Frustrated stallholders have been left scattered across Canterbury city centre since the centuries-old attraction was controversially axed by the former Conservative administration.

But a heavy defeat at the ballot box for the Tories last week will now pave the way for the market’s return as those set to take control of the council promise a comeback.

Alan Baldock, leader of the local Labour Group – which came close to securing a majority at the polls – is considering forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

Both parties fought against the market’s removal in December 2022, with the latter’s manifesto pledging to bring it back.

The market was spread across the city so that the top-end of St George’s Street could be renovated, with the £1.2 million project set to be complete by July this year.

The historic market’s last official day of operating was New Year’s Eve last year.

Cllr Baldock - who is set to become the next leader of the council - says it has always been Labour’s “ambition” to restore the market to its previous location.

“I don’t see any reason for not opening a new market - it would be unusual if we didn’t listen to people and do things like that,” he said.

Local Lib Dem leader Michael Dixey doubled down on his election pledge.

“The Lib Dems are absolutely committed to bringing the market back,” he said.

The veteran councillor went as far as saying the restoration of the market to the main drag would be a condition of his party joining a future administration.

“It was a disgrace to ever consider moving it, so as far as we’re concerned it’s pretty well a red line bringing the market back,” he said.

Cllr Dixey says the issue is “common ground” between the centre-left parties likely to govern the district for the next four years.

“I think it’s probably what we’d call an easy win because it’s not going to cost much money to bring it back,” he explained.

“I think it can be done quite quickly, and it would be very popular.

“It was not a popular move, getting rid of the market.

“I’m not saying that it has to be exactly where it was, but it has to be in the centre of the city.

“It’s early days, but we have every intention of bringing back the market as soon as possible.”

Leader of the council’s Green group, Clare Turnbull, echoed the views.

The dispersal of the traders “felt like it was a way of prettifying the city centre at the expense of the needs of residents and local traders,” the Gorrell councillor said.

“We’re definitely up for bringing [the market] back. It brings the city alive to have the market in the centre of town.

“It’s good that the other parties are on board with that.”

The news will be welcome to Canterbury’s market traders.

Steve Bamber, the then chair of the Canterbury Market Traders Association, said last June the plans to “banish” the street traders was a “way of killing off” the market.

He argued at the time that a centralised area where visitors can peruse stalls would be much better for the city and for traders than having them dotted across 41 spots throughout the city centre.

“This is not in the interests of our customers, who consist of local people and visitors to Canterbury, and who rightly expect a street market to be offered as defined by any dictionary: an open-air market often held only on particular days of the week in a designated area,” Mr Bamber said.

“Banishing traders to lone-standing pitches elsewhere is simply another way of killing off Canterbury market and depriving our city of a valued and vibrant feature.

“Once it’s gone – it’s gone for good - and I can assure you there are not many who are positive about that.”

The market is thought to have been in use for almost 700 years, with licences to trade going back to 1453.

Before its dispersal, the market was open on Wednesdays and Fridays.

‘It was a disgrace to ever consider moving it, so as far as we’re concerned it’s pretty well a red line bringing the market back...’

Last year, then-Conservative cabinet member Cllr Ashley Clark told KentOnline he hoped the market rejig would diminish the amount of “tat” on sale at the market.

The consultation run by the city council allowed members of the public to express their views on possible changes to the market.

The top answer was for all stalls to adhere to the same visual standard, and the second most common suggestion was for all of the pitches to remain in the same place.

Then-council leader Ben Fitter-Harding defended the plans, arguing that the reshuffle could “create a really vibrant atmosphere” and "enhance look and feel" of the city.

"This doesn't intend to spread any market anywhere. This is about street trading.

"What it does provide is clusters of pitches that will be very attractive and very effective at providing goods," he said.

“I don’t see any reason for not opening a new market - it would be unusual if we didn’t listen to people and do things like that...”

Then-Labour group leader Cllr Dave Wilson said in a debate at the council "there was clear desire from people in the consultation that the site's should be grouped together in one location - that's been ignored.

"People objected to the current market being disbanded - that's been ignored."

The market’s restoration is likely to be close to the top of the agenda once the composition of Canterbury City Council’s new cabinet is officially confirmed at the authority’s Annual General Meeting on May 17.