ALTHOUGH 98 per cent of people surveyed praised the continental market in Marlborough High Street on Jluy 21 and 22, by no means everyone was happy with the Gallic invasion.

Monday night's meeting of the town council was asked how much the visiting traders had to pay in comparison to the regular Wednesday market stallholders, and councillors also wanted to know how much revenue had been lost from the 22 parking spaces taken up by the market.

The market was set up by Marlborough Area Development Trust in conjunction with Kennet District Council. It was organised by Brunomart, a specialist supplier of continental markets.

MADT carried out its own survey of those attending the market and 98 per cent of respondents said they enjoyed the market and would support speciality markets in the future.

But Coun Mel Curtis said he had been approached by town traders and asked what contribution the continental traders had made.

Mayor Hilary Cripps said she had asked the same question of Kennet council leader Coun Chris Humphries. She said: "He said he thought they'd paid something but he didn't know how much."

After the meeting, Coun Cripps said: "It did look very colourful but it was terribly expensive.

"Our local market traders are there every week and have to pay a lot of money. Shopkeepers in the town are finding it very hard at the moment and the council must be seen to be protecting their interests."

Ian Brown, Kennet's businessmanager, said the amount paid by the continental market traders for their stalls was on a par with the amount paid by the Wednesday market traders. The council will write to Kennet to ask how much revenue was lost through the use of the 22 parking spaces.