A popular boot fair is set to restart this weekend following a campaign by stallholders.

Wincheap Boot Fair in Canterbury was forced to close in mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but traders were disappointed when it did not reopen as lockdown restrictions eased.

The council said the fair was unable to go ahead as Wincheap park and ride was in use on Sundays providing discounted 50p-a-day parking, and it was not viable to open the terminal building to provide toilets and hand-washing facilities one day a week.

But stallholders argued the weekly Sunday sale is an important social event for many people, and is vital for those on lower incomes.

They offered to clean bathrooms free of charge, as a means of easing the burden on the city council.

Following calls for the weekly event to continue, the council has now agreed it can safely resume from this Sunday.

The authority has confirmed toilets and hand-washing facilities will be available at the terminal building.

Gates will be open to traders between 5.30am and 8am. Meanwhile, payment for pitches, which cost £11, will be by card only.

Stallholder Barry Stone, who has been among those leading calls for the boot fair to resume, is delighted by the news.

"I've been doing double back handstands," he said. "I feel like I've won the lottery. It's really, really good news.

"The first week will probably be a bit quiet because not everyone will know, but hopefully with word of mouth it will grow."

The long-term future of the boot fair remains uncertain, however.

The city council is still going through the tender process for a new park and ride contract, which is due to start next April.

Under that process, the council has asked bidders to provide a price that includes a Sunday service at all three of its park and ride sites, rather than just at New Dover Road and Sturry Road.

A final decision on the tender, and therefore on the future of the boot fair itself, will be taken later this year, when the council has assessed the various bids that have been submitted.

The council's head of neighbourhood services, Doug Rattray, said: "Traders have been keen to get back up and running and we'd like to thank some of them for their kind offer to ease the burden of reopening on us. We have not needed to take them up on this in the end, but it was very much appreciated.

"We know there are plenty of people for whom a Sunday morning trip to the boot fair is a part of their weekend routine, so we're pleased it can reopen again and are grateful for everyone's patience and understanding.

"Thanks also go to our colleagues at Monitor, who look after toilets for us, and Serco for their post-event cleaning. We'd urge everyone attending to be responsible and take their rubbish with them, so that the amount of work required is kept to an absolute minimum."

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