Traders have been reassured by a council that there will be no additional costs connected to a Christmas Eve market, after concerns were raised about parking costs. 

North Yorkshire Council said that traders who usually attend the Northallerton Christmas Eve market will not be required to pay for car park spaces. 

Northallerton MarketNorthallerton Market (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Concerns had been growing that there could be an additional £32 cost for traders at the well-attended market. 

Northallerton Market on Wednesday (October 2)Northallerton Market on Wednesday (October 2) (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Martin Carrick, of Carricks (Fish) Ltd, which has been attending markets across North Yorkshire for 95 years and usually takes up 15 parking spaces, insisted that "each market should be the same year on year".

Mr Carrick attends Northallerton Market every Wednesday, and described the difficult conditions for traders due to fuel and electricity costs, and other overheads.

Carricks Fish Ltd van in NorthallertonCarricks Fish Ltd van in Northallerton (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He believes that there needs to be incentives in place for market traders if they want to survive in the current climate.

Reassuring traders, North Yorkshire Council has said that there will be no additional charges associated with Northallerton Christmas Eve market.

The council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Keane Duncan said: “The Christmas Eve market in Northallerton is an annual tradition and well-attended by locals and visitors to the town.  

“This year, Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday, which is traditionally market day, so it will be moved to the Tuesday.  

“We would like to assure stallholders that, as has been the case for previous years, no additional charges will apply.”