Whilst market traders battle for their livelihood with the Council, I am seeking out the Royal Charter to confirm exactly what rights exist. The historic right to a market is certainly not negotiable. I find the Councils disregard for our market traders quite astonishing- some have been there since the days of King George.

Sticking the traders on the top end of Bridge Street simply won't do and the market traders are right to insist on something significantly better.

The whole pedestrian precinct shambles that has become Worksop needs urgent attention and some simple changes would work.

It is fundamentally wrong that cars can drive through a pedestrianised area and park up, or sometimes simply use it as a throughway. Too many of the blue badges are being misused - which has a negative impact on those who do need them because of their disability. I saw a van full of people recently parked up, with each and every one doing their shopping and using one blue badge as their passport to laziness.

Instead we need proper and good access for the disabled, with clearly marked out disabled parking close to the town centre, but with Bridge Street free from any cars or cycling. I know when I met traders on this some years ago a few disagreed, but the evidence backs up my case: the chaos of cars and cycling on Bridge Street is one reason why some people avoid Worksop town centre.

We don't need the Council money spending on fancy furniture and other devices either. What would be far better is for some of the shops and cafes to spill over onto the pedestrian area as happens in many other towns - allowing private sector entrepreneurship rather than town hall planning.

The complaints I was getting from Retford traders when I met them last month were that the Council is hindering some of their more imaginative ways of attracting people in. I have also seen no action on my proposal which I have previously aired in this paper which is to have local artists displaying their work in empty shop windows. This is where the Council should concentrate its efforts.

I am exasperated. I now have a pass for a free hour's parking from the Council. But to use it I have to pay for two hours parking, so it's the third hour free - and I can only use it in certain car parks. Town centre car parking needs urgent reviewing.