A NEW town centre market is one step closer to opening, thanks to a £3,000 donation from Milford Haven Town Council.

At a meeting on Monday, June 30, councillors voted to help the town's Business Circle start a new open-air market.

The money, which comes from the council’s town centre regeneration budget, will pay for stalls for the market, which will be held in Market Square.

Councillors had toyed with idea of buying the stalls as a council and renting them out to traders, but Cllrs Rhys Sinnett and John Cole agreed it would be unwise to take on the extra responsibility.

“We don’t have any experience in running a market,” said Cllr Sinnett. “I really don’t think we need to take any more active part in this.”

Welcoming the decision, Cllr Guy Woodham – who chairs Milford Haven’s Town Team - said: “Hopefully with additional support from Pembrokeshire County Council, this will be a great example of different organisations coming together to support town regeneration.

“This is exactly the purpose for which the Town Team was established. In addition to being a Town Team priority, it has also been a personal wish of mine for some years to see a town market re-established."

Chair of Milford Haven Business Circle Lynne Turner said the grant was a big step forward.

“'There have been a few hiccups over the past weeks, but with this level of support we can now forge ahead with our plans,” she said.

She thanked Business Circle members, who will now be storing, transporting and looking after the market on a weekly basis, including new market manager Byron Jenkins, and Keith Parr for his assistance.

The Business Circle is now in discussions with the county council regarding its application, and hopes to have the market up and running before the end of July. For more information on having a stall, contact Lynne Turner on 07968 740731.