MARKET traders are ready to negotiate with Wycombe District Council over land to pitch their stalls.

Buckinghamshire County Council has exchanged contracts with the district over the sale of the land at Dean Street after a year of uncertainty. The land was occupied by the market until last autumn.

Since then, the market has consisted of six stalls on a narrow strip of land at the back of Dean Street car park.

The land is rented by the traders from a private landowner.

Di Roberts, who runs Acorn Nurseries at the market, said: "Obviously, it should secure the future for us. It just depends what sort of rent they want and how they want to run it. We are optimistic at the moment."

Wycombe district councillor Derek Done said: "We are delighted with the news. It has been expected for a while but has now actually happened.

"It is not a secret that several of us district councillors would like to see a market there.

"I personally would like to see it up on a more satisfactory footing."

Cllr Done said he expected the council to begin negotiations with stallholders in the near future but added: "The council still has several options but suspect Marlow councillors would want to see the market benefit."

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