A LOCAL victory for farmers' markets in West Oxfordshire could be rolled out across the country.

District councillors have given the go-ahead to three separate planning applications for the Thames Valley Farmers Market Co-operative to put up roadside signs in the days before markets take place.

On Monday, despite strong protest from Witney Town Council about setting a precedent for fly-posting, the co-operative followed previous victories for the signs in Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

Pete Williams, spokesman, said: "We have now set a template for other councils and counties across the country.

"We were told that if we put up the signs, we would be prosecuted, so we have done it by the book, and got planning permission.

"Councils in rural areas support farmers' markets, and it was just a case of common sense to allow us to advertise them, so that people know when and where they are, and use them."

On Monday, Mr Williams met organisers of markets in the south of the county. Plans are being drawn up for similar applications to the Vale of White Horse District Council - which, like West Oxfordshire, has declared war on illegal fly-posting.

FARMA, the national Farmers Retail and Markets Association, which has certified about half of the 500 markets in the UK, has been following the progress of the West Oxfordshire applications, and is preparing to give advice to other organisations.

In Witney, the council has approved the putting up of 15 standard signs, each about two-feet-square, to the posts of roadside street signs two days before the markets are held each month. They have to be removed immediately after the markets finish. Similar consent was given for 15 at Charlbury and 11 at Chipping Norton, against the recommendations of council planning officers, who said there were too many and would clutter up roadside street furniture. Nick Potter, who helps organise the three-monthly Charlbury markets, said: "This is a victory for common sense. The Thames Valley co-operative has spent about £1,000 on seeking planning permission. It has won three out of three, and has just one more - for Woodstock - to go before council planners."

Source: Witney Gazette