AS a councillor who has been involved with the farmers' market, I was disappointed that your report of the 'incident' or 'row' at the first Saturday farmers' market in High Street was somewhat one-sided.
Your reporter largely ignored the main issue: the aggressive and intimidating behaviour of a small minority of day-traders (not farmers nor our permanent market traders) towards a council officer. However, far from being shaken, the officer stood up to them and refused to be intimidated.
Whatever grievances this minority of day-traders think they may have, creating this kind of disturbance in the High Street will achieve nothing. Decisions on street trading are made by the appropriate council committee, not by a shouting match in the street.
The irony is that the officer they targeted had already initiated discussions on how the farmers' market could be expanded to accommodate other traders. So they were shouting at someone who was trying to help them.
Sadly, that is what happens when people prefer shouting to discussing.
Mike Gill,
Deputy chairman,
Bromsgrove District Council
* Editor's note: Far from 'ignoring' the main issue, the story focused clearly on the 'incident' concerned, and contained quotes from Mr Michael reiterating the points made here. He is quoted in the story as saying: "Harassing and shouting at farmers and council officers in High Street is not the way forward."
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