A TOWN trader and former mayor has called for some entente cordiale on the prospect of holding a French market in Haslemere.
It follows a recent committee meeting by traders who said non to a French market but yes to markets promoting local produce and local businesses.
"I would support a proposal to hold a French market; we should always be looking for opportunities to encourage more people to the town," said Brian Howard, the owner of Marley Flowers.
"Where is the risk? If we hold one and all the shopkeepers say we have had a lousy day and it was a bad idea, what have we really lost?
"But if it fills up the tills, there is a buzz about the place and more people come into town as a result, you win. I'm all for giving it a try, it is a low- risk option, if you win, you win and if you lose, you don't lose very much."
His comments follow remarks made at a recent Haslemere Town Council meeting when an suggestion to hold a French market in the town was thrown out because the chamber of trade was said to prefer a local farmers' market.
In a letter to The Herald this week, Mr Howard, who is a Haslemere town councillor said: "I would urge fellow traders to take a wider perspective of the opportunities.
"In recent years, a number of neighbouring towns have hosted French markets, most recently in Godalming a few weeks ago. From all reports and personal visits, they appear to have significantly increased the number of prospective customers visiting the town on the day.
"It is my view that the real opportunity is for the town and its traders collectively to market themselves to potential new customers for whom Haslemere is not their first port of call."
A local resident, Professor D Kelly wrote to The Herald recently on the subject, claiming that the decision against French markets came despite the success of similar events in Godalming and Liphook.
"The chamber of commerce finds itself at odds with residents' feelings," said the letter writer from Shepherds Hill, who called on the town to have a local farmers' market and a French one "in order that we may both support our local producers and enjoy European produce".
In response, Simon Labrow, the publicity manager for Haslemere Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said that while the chamber had no power to make decisions on markets for the town, it was felt that "in the best interests of local businesses and our customers, the priority should be the promotion of local produce and local businesses".
Andrew Brownrigg, a former president of the chamber, is task leader for the economy in the ongoing Haslemere Healthcheck, a scheme funded by the Countryside Agency, Waverley, Surrey County Council and Haslemere Town Council to ensure that the market town continues to thrive.
A previous market in the town a number of years ago, said Mr Brownrigg, "got off to a bad start". The problem is finding a suitable location, and yes, we all want a market of some sort aimed at local businesses from the surrounding area. We want to support English producers before we attract French markets," said Mr Browrigg, who believed there may be the possibility of inviting traders from Haslemere's twin town of Bernay in Normandy and Horb-am-Neckar in Germany.
President of Haslemere Chamber of Trade, Melanie Odell, said that she would be happy to send out questionnaires to traders about the subject, but that the chamber had no resources to organise it because of a very full calendar of events for this year, including a special Sunday Christmas market at the end of November.
"Anything that helps trade in the town is good but we prefer to support British and local business," believed Mrs Odell.
Iain Lynch, the corporate services manager for Waverley Borough Council, was unavailable for comment.