After six months of organisation and planning applications, a weekly market will finally open in Westbury Laurence Williams, 59, of Lakelands Edge, who owns Northacre Trading Company submitted a planning application to hold a weekly market in the Market Place in July but encountered a number of problems during the process.

Mr Williams, who is also looking for a location to hold a market in Trowbridge, said: “I’ve had sleepless nights about it but at last we’ve got a weekly market coming to Westbury.

“I had some problems opening up in Market Place. Originally I had to get a road closure but I withdrew that application. Then there were some concerns from residents.

“We looked at using some of the parking bays and pavement space but Wiltshire Council were concerned because in order to do this we’d have to change the Highways Act which would cost a lot.

“Also you can’t trade within three metres of a building, which meant we could only have about six traders so it wasn’t worth it in the end.

“I had to re-think and the best place was the Labour Club, because that can hold a market all year round.”

The market will now run at the Labour Club in Haynes Road every Thursday between 9am and 2pm.

Stalls will include fruit and vegetables, cheese, meat, household products and antiques among others.

“Traders are keen to come to Westbury because nowhere else has a market on a Thursday so it’s an ideal opportunity,” Mr Williams said. “Also there’s great free parking in the High Street.

“The response from the local people has been good and the Town Council have backed us 100 per cent.”

Westbury mayor Sue Ezra said: “I’m all for enterprise and it’s also in the centre of town, so people who visit the market will hopefully shop in the town’s shops bringing more trade to Westbury.”

Mr Williams also has a weekly market at the Assembly Hall in Melksham every Tuesday between 9am and 2pm.

The firm will reopen their market and car boot on the Northacre Industrial Estate, Westbury, every Saturday and Sunday from February 6 between 7am and 2pm.

To set up a stall at the new Westbury weekly market or for more information, call Mr Williams on 01373 865595.