A SCHEME aimed at privitising Petersfield market to boost dwindling trade is being examined by East Hampshire District Council.
The plan has been put forward by Gareth Price, consultant to the Petersfield Market Town Initiative.
He has asked the district council to consider the use of an external manager for the twice-weekly markets in the Square.
Chris Fairhead, land and property manager for EHDC, told a meeting of the Central Area Community Community on Tuesday: "In his experience Mr Price has found that street markets are best run by a professional body experienced in this area of the retail trade.
"He believes that currently Petersfield market is surviving but not thriving.
"It has a limited variety, is poorly merchandised and, given its location, often looks rather shabby with its hotchpotch of stalls of different sizes and colours."
Mr Fairhead reported that there was at least one company which was interested in taking over the running of the market.
He told the meeting: "Many of the market traders will have views on the way the market is managed in the future. I have already met some traders and certainly there should be full consultation with all the traders."
Teresa Jamieson said traders felt the market in the centre of Petersfield should be larger. To some extent this was reliant on the reorganisation of some of the roads, which was still under discussion.
"I still feel very strongly that the market is central to the town's economy. It brings people into Petersfield twice a week. It is of core value to the town.
"The market is the key to the future of Petersfield and it is beholden on us to explore all the possibilities for its future."
She said the district council had never taken external advice and she was keen to investigate the options: "Other historic market towns have larger markets and I think it would be good to see our market expand."
But she stressed that it was important to consult the town council and the traders.