Public outcry forces council U-turn on fishmonger’s market ban – but Ken says he won’t be back

WILTSHIRE Council has made a U-turn on its decision to ban trader Ken Langley from Melksham’s Tuesday market.

However, the owner of Ken’s Fresh Fish has told Melksham News that he won’t be returning to the market until there is a “change of attitude” at Wiltshire Council or the market becomes the responsibility of Melksham Town Council.

The council had banned the owner of Ken’s Fresh Fish from all Wiltshire Council markets after he turned up to trade in the Market Place on a day in August that the market had been cancelled due to expected high winds.

But following a huge public outcry to a story in the Melksham News, Wiltshire Council back-tracked on their decision.

Ken told Melksham News, “It’s not that I don’t want to come back, but I am concerned that this could happen again. If the town council take over the market then I will come back and I won’t let anybody down. The support I have had from the locals has been fantastic.

“But, they [Wiltshire Council] have made me feel that it was my fault that I came and tried to trade. I’ve traded through Covid, I was an essential worker – I would be disrespecting the fisherman if I say no I can’t trade because it’s too wet – they go out in all weathers!

“I’m not going to be dictated to by anybody – Wiltshire Council should have more respect, and until there is a change in attitude I am not coming back on their markets – I’m really sorry about this.

“They have made me feel like it was my fault, and that I have just got a ‘slap on the wrists’ and that if I do it again then it will be permanent. Well I’m sorry there won’t be a next time, not until they change their attitude.”

Prior to their U-turn, Wiltshire Council had told Melksham News this morning (Wednesday 30th September) that they would be standing by their decision to ban Ken.

That decision was reversed after this week’s Melksham News was published today, which reports on the “online stink” to the news of Ken’s ban.

In an updated statement sent to Melksham News this afternoon (Wednesday 30th September), cllr Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways, Wiltshire Council, said, “We realise the importance our markets play in supporting local communities. It is extremely rare for a market stall holder to lose their pitch and this only happens where a major breach of the licence occurs.

“Upon further reflection, and following some representations from some local councillors, we have agreed to allow the fishmonger to trade at Wiltshire Council markets again. The safety of market goers has to be our highest priority and the trader made a conscious decision to trade when he knew the market was closed due to safety concerns. We have reminded him of his responsibilities and how vital it is that he adheres to the council’s market regulations which he has signed and is bound by, and that we can’t allow something like this to happen again.

“We have made the decision to suspend his licence for four weeks but he will be allowed to trade again from 6 October as he already hadn’t been trading at one of our markets for the majority of that period of time.”