AN end of year bonus looks on the cards for traders, visitors and residents in Bovey Tracey, with a possible revival of the winter carnival and the inclusion of a French and local Christmas produce market.

If all goes according to plan, the two-day bonanza would see the winter carnival procession – such an event has not been held in the town for many years – on the evening of Friday, December 4.

That hinges on supporting funds being raised to stage it by the town's carnival committee.

The Christmas market would be the following day and combine with the switching on of the Bovey Tracey Christmas lights.

Traders in the town seem to be in favour of the market and it was met enthusiastically by members of the town council at their monthly meeting on Monday.

Some business people though were not happy with the recent French market and contemporary craft fair being held on the same day, five of them writing that it had taken money out of the town, rather than bringing it in.

They maintained that running the events simultaneously did not assist all Fore Street traders.

'When the craft fair was on a different weekend, visitors to it continued on into the town and visited the shops who benefited from the extra trade.

'Now visitors to the fair come up to the town and spend their money in the French market rather than in the shops. This money then goes out of the town. If the French market were on a different weekend it would spread the footfall and the shops would benefit from both events,' added the letter.

The traders also complained about road closure signs at each end of Fore Street on the Saturday before the market, which they said discouraged some shoppers from visiting the town that week and they suggested that the signage should be accompanied by a large sign advertising the reason for the closure.

There was an added complaint about no waiting cones being placed along Fore Street 24 hours before the event, effectively stopping passing trade, and the letter 'respectfully' asked for further consultation when future events affect the town centre and traders.

Town clerk Terry Westwood said one of the five traders had withdrawn from the letter, and a second had said she did not know what she was signing.

He said the post office, which was one of the five, closed at 12.30pm on a Saturday.

'I have spoken to other businesses in the town who said it was one of the busiest Saturday mornings they have had. Catering services did very well and other businesses did well.

'The French market has had a positive effect in bringing visitors into the town,' he stated.

Referring to the signage, Mr Westwood said the council was required by law to give seven days notification of a road closure, while as regards the cones they were put out at 10am on the Friday by the town council.

'Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County and Teignbridge Councils cannot decide between them who is responsible to put out no-waiting cones.

'I think if the traders want a separate event next year, they would have to run it,' he said.

Deputy mayor Cllr Avril Kerswell said the market in the morning was heaving.

'It was fantastic and everyone was smiling. If there are one or two people in the town who cannot join in with that wonderful experience, I am sorry for them because they are losers,' she said.

Councillors agreed that the town should go ahead with a dual event next year and that traders could look at putting the cones out at 5.30pm on the Friday.