DARTFORD: Controversial town centre Sunday market plan approved (From News Shopper)

DARTFORD: Controversial town centre Sunday market plan approved

3:58pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce Sunday markets in Dartford town centre have been given the go-ahead.

Dartford Council’s application to hold markets in High Street and Lowfield Street every Sunday and Thursday, as well as once a month on Fridays, has been approved by its development control board.

Members of Holy Trinity Church in the High Street had written to the council to oppose the plans, saying noise from the markets would ruin Sunday services.

Peter Shackleton wrote: "Services at Holy Trinity will be completely disrupted and the quiet and serenity needed will be lost, probably forever."

However, council planning officers met with the church’s leader Reverend Martin Henwood to amend the plans so the markets would not impact on services.

This includes special measures on Sundays, such as banning the playing of music and having no stalls any further east than number 37 on the High Street.

Also, there will be no markets on holy days, such as Maundy Thursday, and metal stalls will be banned east of the Orchard Centre entrance, to prevent excessive noise when stalls are being put up.

Rev Henwood said: “When we first heard about plans for a Sunday market we were concerned about any interruptions to worship this might cause.

“However we have met with Dartford Council and they have been very helpful in alleviating our fears."

The board’s vice-chairman Councillor Arron Bardoe said: “We have tried our best to respect the church’s wishes and make sure markets do not interfere with services.”