HOPES of saving the village market have been dashed after Grayshott Parish Council turned down an application to grant a licence to use The Square for the rest of this year.

The parish council, which owns The Square, was split over a decision to grant a new licence for the market after hearing representations from both the market organisers and members of Buy In Grayshott shopkeepers at a debate last week.

Parish council chairman John Frankcom made his casting vote against granting the licence after three councillors voted for and three voted against, with one abstention.

The licence application was heard following a public meeting last month when market co-ordinator Tim Wickes announced a suspension of the Saturday market during a heated two-hour meeting – at which some local shopkeepers reported a drop in takings on market day claiming their regular customers were displaced.

But the market group then decided to apply to the council for a licence, coming forward with proposals to save the market, including holding seven markets a year instead of nine.

Mr Frankcom, who had previously written an open letter via The Herald urging all parties to settle their differences prior to the council meeting, said he had “erred on the side of caution given the lack of agreement and understanding on both sides” when exercised his casting vote as chairman.

He said in a letter to the editor this week: “After representatives had addressed the meeting it became clear the gap between the parties had not been closed. After questioning by councillors the vote was taken and it was agreed not to grant a licence in 2016. In fact, the vote was tied but I exercised chairman’s right to create a majority which erred on the side of caution given the lack of agreement and understanding on both sides.

“That was not an easy decision to make but I believe it was the responsible one. The context is not a simple one – a clear appeal from some existing retailers that trading is difficult and their livelihoods affected negatively by a Saturday market occupying the main part of the day cannot be disregarded and treated lightly. As far as Grayshott residents are concerned the evidence available to us indicated a quite mixed opinion on the market.

“I realise this decision will have left many people disappointed but that would have happened with any decision. I would hope supporters of the market will understand that faced with a situation of some discord in the community, simply to have issued a licence would not have been appropriate action by the parish council.”

He called for some repair work to “community cohesion” and “re-establishment of respect” for differing views, adding: “We need to look closely at the problems for the retail sector in Grayshott and if, and how, any community initiatives can help develop and sustain it.

“If future discussions are successful in reaching an agreement then this could include a market.”

The market’s joint co-ordinators – Tim Wickes and David Williams – told The Herald: “The Square Events Group is naturally disappointed with the decision having hoped their concessions would have been accepted but they accept and respect the council’s decision.”

Grayshott Square Events Group proposals made to the shopkeepers included reducing the number of markets from nine to seven, closing 30 minutes earlier, improve signposting to more parking spaces on market day and offering free manned stalls to retailers in the village.

They added: “At their meeting on February 20, the group agreed they would review any other market options open to them and reconfirmed their commitment to bringing events into The Square, the centre piece of the village. They confirmed they would also help any organisation that wished to hold an event in The Square, since at the present time with the exception of the St George’s day party on April 23, no other events are planned this year.”

The Grayshott Square Events Group (SEG), a group of volunteers, set up the market in April 2014 with the aim of boosting trade in the village.

It was held on the third Saturday of the month, between March and November, with an average of 35 stalls mainly selling locally produced food.

At its peak it attracted more than 1,000 visitors with a special market Shoppa bus ferrying shoppers from Liphook and Headley Down.

Last year it raised £5,000 for the village with nearly £1,600 going to the youth group.