MARKET traders in Wokingham's town centre are now once again starting to set up shop, with the exception of some stalls that never stopped trading at all.

The council revealed their plans for the markets following the Prime Minister's announcement that outdoor markets will be free to re-open from yesterday, June 1.

However Wokingham Borough Council also made it clear that the market place in town technically never closed - traders identified by the government as essential suppliers, namely food traders, take-away food traders and a pet food supplier, have been trading throughout the lockdown.

The plan to fully re-open the markets consists of following guidance produced by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), as well as reducing the number of stalls, while ensuring traders have an equal opportunity to trade in the town centre.

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The council has also called for other stores on Market Place to adhere to social distancing guidelines, allowing for space so residents can safely queue.

Councillor Imogen Shepherd-Dubey said: 'The market in Wokingham has been in continuous operation since 1219 and has no doubt seen many problems in its 800 years of operation.

"This has to include historic plagues such as the Black Death and the town being ransacked and burned several times during the Civil War.

"This year, there was no requirement to close the market, as long as the public could maintain social distancing.

"Our traders who sell food and grocery items have therefore been allowed to continue in the same way as supermarkets.

"This has provided an alternative food source during lockdown and has ensured that the supermarkets do not have a monopoly on all of our food supplies."

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The market is expected to be more fully re-opened by June 15.

Cllr Shepherd-Dubey added: "All this latest announcement means is that we will be able to allow other kinds of non-food or grocery traders to return.

"However, this will depend on us being able to keep people social distancing and it will limit the number of stalls we can have.

"As indicated, there is a concern about how we manage the market place social distancing if other shops in the vicinity open and people have to queue outside."

For more information, visit wokingham.gov.uk/.