COUNCILLORS are to be asked to support a controversial proposal to hold more farmers' markets in Skipton next year.

At a meeting of Craven District Council's community services committee on Wednesday, councillors will be asked to grant permission for nine farmers' markets during 2006.

Chris Aldred, markets manager with Skipton Town Council, is asking Craven District to support a recommendation to run the markets again on nine Sundays between February and November.

An additional one will be held as part of the Sheep Day in July.

The farmers' markets have proved to be controversial, with objections from the existing week day market stall holders, the Chamber of Trade and Sebastian Fattorini, the owner of Skipton Castle and holder of the town's market licence.

Mr Fattorini was due to meet with members of Craven District Council yesterday (Thursday) to discuss the issue.

He has said he believes funds should be spent on improving the existing market and incorporating local farm produce as part of that.

"It is essential to ensure that the support of one section of the local community does not result in the downfall of another," said Mr Fattorini in a letter to the council.

Skipton Chamber of Trade also discussed the issue at their meeting this week.

The Chamber has previously stated it is not in favour of the farmers' markets being run on an additional day.

Bob Wright, president of the Chamber, said: "We are not against the farmers trading at all, we're in a farming area.

"There are many wide and differing views within the Chamber itself, but we've had to make a decision and that is that we don't wish to see more markets than already exist.

"All we seem to hear is about the markets, and members are worried that all the emphasis is being placed just on the markets," he added.

Mr Wright said the Chamber had fought a hard battle to get the weekly market reduced from six days a week to the current four and did not want to see another increase in the number being held.

However, the farmers' markets have been popular with residents and visitors alike.

Nine letters of support have been sent to Mr Aldred.

In addition, a survey carried out at the August market found that 79 per cent of people visiting had come to Skipton specifically for the farmers' market and 44 per cent of them had used other shops and services.

The survey also discovered the majority of people - 60 per cent - came from Craven, with 48 per cent of those living in the BD23 postal district.

The markets are run by Northern Dales Farmers' Markets, an organisation set up by Richmond farmer Alistair Davy.

Strict rules regulate who can take a stall at the farmers' market. All products sold must be locally grown or produced. To qualify as a local producer, the stallholder must come from within 40 miles of the market.

Stalls must also be staffed by someone involved in growing, raising or producing the goods on sale.