EXTRA farmers' markets, a new craft market and more visits by French and continental stallholders are likely this year in Salisbury's Market Square, despite fears that they could undermine the twice-weekly charter market.

The new markets will visit the city for a trial period and councillors will review at the end of the year their effect on the 13th Century charter produce market and on city businesses generally. Local farmers, who bring their stalls to the Tuesday and Saturday market days, will gain an extra day a month, with a farmers' market on the second Friday of each month.

There will be three two-day French markets this year, the first in May and the second in September. Talks are continuing between Salisbury district council and the French market organisers on the timing of the third.

Plans for it to be held in December were criticised by the charter market stallholders, who feared it would take trade away from them in their busiest period of the year, the run-up to Christmas.

Members of the council's city area committee accepted that some of the charter market traders' concerns were justified.

Councillors agreed there should be no continental market during December and also took on board concerns about the charging policy for the various markets, by agreeing all the charges should be harmonised.

Officers told the committee that the Market Square was an important but "poorly under-utilised" open space in the historic city centre and it was felt that extra markets bringing in farmers' produce, crafts and continental goods would add character and vitality to the city.

The idea has the full support of the Salisbury City Centre Management Board and the Salisbury tourism partnership, but the market traders' liaison group is unhappy with some of the proposals.

Councillor Jeremy Nettle, one of three council representatives on the liaison group, told the Journal that, while he welcomed better use of the Market Square, he wanted the charges issue tackled, to prevent alienating the Tuesday and Saturday stallholders.

Councillor John Cole Morgan emphasised that the committee must be prepared to stop the new markets at the end of the trial period, if they were found to be damaging the charter market.

Committee chairman Councillor Simon Howarth said councillors were mindful of the importance of the twice-weekly charter market and careful consideration would be given to all issues at the end of the trial period.

The committee's decision was expected to be ratified by the council's cabinet last night.

The council is to ask Bournemouth University to monitor the trial and report back to the council early in 2005 on the effects of the new markets on trading in Salisbury and on the charter market in particular.