GRAYSHOTT Parish Council has decided unanimously to endorse a proposal for a full review on the future of any markets in the village – in an effort to quell conflicts of interest over a Saturday market.

At a meeting on Monday evening, parish councillors made it clear they were seeking a compromise to the saga which has divided the village for several months, bringing with it a flood of comments on the village website and often angry and abusive calls to traders, following the sudden closure of the regular markets late last year.

The proposal came in response to a petition organised by Marek Ujam who lives in nearby Hindhead, who presented it to the annual parish assembly last Friday night.

It contained signatures and comments from more than 325 people. All but one called for the Saturday market to be reinstated and with one signatory praising the market, but calling for it to be held on a day which doesn’t affect the business of existing traders.

The new proposal was read out by John Frankcom. It followed Febrary’s parish council meeting when Mr Frankcom used his casting vote to turn down an application to grant a licence to use Grayshott Square as a market place for the rest of the year.

The row started after the market, which was set up in April 2014 with the aim of boosting trade in the village, came under fire from some local traders, who claimed they were losing money on market days.

A lack of parking in the village was also blamed for problems associated with the extra shoppers making a beeline for the market, leaving residents with limited on-street parking.

Held on the third Saturday of each month, at its peak it attracted more than 1,000 shoppers with a special bus ferrying people from Liphook and Headley Down. The debate on the market has since raged on unremittingly, stirring up a hornet’s nest of bad feeling on both sides.

Setting out the three stages of the proposal, Mr Frankcom told councillors it aims to hold a review of all the evidence submitted as the basis for the original decision to hold markets in The Square.

Wider consultations will also take place on preferred options including whether to hold markets on other days except Saturdays, and there will be mediation between stakeholders or those most affected by any decision to grant a licence in the future.

Mr Frankcom said: “The parish council wishes to work towards a solution that our community can support and commit to and that will put an end to the unpleasant behaviour that has been witnessed during the past few months.”

Managed and led by the parish council, the first two stages of the proposal are expected to be completed by the end of May – and the third he said would “depend on the willingness of the parties to progress”.

But Mr Frankcom warned: “It is important to remember we are addressing serious trading issues in Grayshott for the future and not just the short term.”

Speaking at the meeting, Tim Tinsley-Wickes, one of two organisers of the market, told the council that unless the market was held on a Saturday morning “we will not be needed”.

He added: “Someone else will have to organise it. I do believe the importance of the shop keepers’ survival, but if the market is not on a Saturday, I will not be running it.”

In the meantime, East Hampshire District Council leader Ferris Cowper, said in a report he hoped people would “come together” on both sides and “secure the maximum benefit of the former owner of the Square’s legacy for the village and the community of Grayshott.”

Mr Cowper said: “I have many regrets over this topic, I regret the loss of the market, I regret some our established businesses lost money because of the market. I regret some of our local business who made money from the market will now lose that money.

“Finally I regret the harsh words and ill feeling that arose during the debate.” And yet, said Mr Cowper, “It all seemed to be such a great idea.”

Speaking after the meeting Phil Bates of THINK, the forerunner to BIG (Buy in Grayshott), urged people to be positive about the village.

“It is not all doom and gloom and about markets and petitions.

Highlighting its great community spirit Mr Bates listed more than 30 organisations and events that make up the life of the village.

He said: “Relax and enjoy what we have in our great village as we are more community active and fortunate in many ways than a lot of other villages and their residents.”