Sir, The Country Market stall organisers have been told that their stall is no longer welcome at Abingdon Farmers’ Market. They have been banished.

Many customers will be both surprised and upset to hear this has happened, as the stall always looks to be one of the most popular on the market. It is unclear why they have been informed that their trading days are over after a decade and a half of service.

The stall provided excellent home baking and preserves and its reputation has, I am sure, attracted people to the market who would not otherwise have visited. The helpers and organisers are all well-known Abingdon and area people.

The Country Market stall was an important part of the farmers’ market total offering and it was one of the original founding participants when we set the market up in 1999/2000.

Upsetting customers by peremptorily removing traders who are longstanding favourites with the public seems very unbusinesslike, and I can find no evidence that either customers or other stakeholders were consulted at all.

I hope the Country Market stall will be reinstated very quickly, and I hope that those involved will review the process that led up to this decision and see what lessons they can learn: Abingdon can well do without such disincentives to businesses.

Lesley Legge (Councillor)

An Abingdon Farmers’ Market founder