PLANS to bring High Wycombe’s dwindling market back under the direct control of Wycombe District Council were rejected by councillors amid fears breaking their contract could see them sued.

Cllr Khalil Ahmed, who is also Wycombe’s parliamentary candidate, tabled a motion at the full district council meeting on Monday last week calling for the market operators to be given three months’ notice so the management could be brought back in-house.

Last weekend, Cllr Ahmed said only six vendors were trading at the market.

He complained that the market traders could be driven away completely amid “dwindling footfall and high pitch rates”, saying: “Traders are losing the will to come to Wycombe and trade any longer.

“They simply could not make ends meet and were contemplating going elsewhere.

“The market operator has done nothing to help these traders.”

The market is operated by Saunders Markets, which has reportedly not been based in High Wycombe since 2010.

Cllr Ahmed urged Wycombe District Council to “look beyond party politics to help our beautiful town by saving the market and allowing the town to prosper... and take back control of the market”.

Cllr Brian Pearce, who has been vocal about the need to shake-up the town’s market, supported the call, saying he feared that in six months there will be no market at all.

Cllr Ray Farmer added that the market has been “going downhill” for months.

While many councillors agreed that the market needs improving - the motion was rejected amid concerns about the legality of pulling out of their contract, which runs until March 31, 2021, with Saunders Markets early.

Cllr Katrina Wood, council leader, said she had a “real problem” with the motion, adding: “We could be sued for being in breach of our contract.

“It would be the new unitary that considers this. It is not the most appropriate time for us to do anything now.

“And we could be liable for damages if we break our contract.”

Cllr Lesley Clarke also agreed that the motion is “premature” as councillors on the High Wycombe town committee were due to receive an update on the market at their next scheduled meeting on September 10.