A special meeting is being organised to try and find a resolution to the Dumfries town centre markets row.
There is a rivalry between two event operators and Dumfries and Galloway Council had been hoping they could put their differences aside and work together for the benefit of the town.
The matter was due to be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of Nithsdale Area Committee but no report was made available.
It was also expected that the topic would be on the agenda at the full council meeting at the end of the month. However, that is no longer happening.
Nithsdale Area Committee chairman Jim Dempster said: “Although there is a recommendation that it goes to the full council on March 31, the provost and I have decided that we will have a special meeting to discuss this particular agenda item at a date to be set before the next election on May 5.
“That’s on the basis that this should be a local decision, a local decision-making process. I believe that in the previous report there was a decision to be taken by us in March.
“Therefore we intend to convene a special meeting.
“That’s a decision taken by the provost, vice chair, and myself.”
The traders’ rivalry was created in 2020 when Dumfries and Galloway Council gave the go-ahead to independent crafters’ co-operative The Guild to stage a market festival every second Saturday of the month for most of the year.
They claimed their stallholders would be disadvantaged by not being allowed to trade when the alternative market was in operation – and both groups have been at loggerheads since.
