Rules relaxed at Lincolnshire markets to encourage trade
Changes are to be made to the way four Lincolnshire markets are run.
A rule restricting the markets to only one or two traders in each category at markets in Mablethorpe, Horncastle, Louth and Spilsby is to be removed.
Mablethorpe's weekly market will change from Thursday to Tuesday and stalls at all four markets will be given a standard design canopy.
The district council said traders would pay more but the rate would not rise again until at least 2015.
Under current rules, the markets are only allowed one or two traders in each different category.
East Lindsey District Council said removing this restriction would provide fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs.
'Significant to economy'
The authority also promised to do more to promote the market and said it would be organising street entertainment.
It said each stall would now be 10ft (3m) to give the markets a more consistent appearance.
Mablethorpe's market will also move to a new location on High Street for a trial period from 5 April.
Permanent traders will be charged £15 per day and casual traders £18.
Craig Leyland, portfolio holder for the economy, said: "When we agreed to continue running the markets ourselves in 2011, we were clear that it is important that markets play a more significant role in supporting the economy in our market towns and are run more efficiently.
"It is really important we create new business opportunities and we hope that entrepreneurs will recognise the opportunity presented by the markets and use them as a platform to grow from."
Tim Edmon, a Louth Market trader, said: "East Lindsey are doing their very best in the circumstances we've got out there at the moment.
"They are trying to work with us to make it more uniform - more like a market instead of a car boot sale."