A STRUGGLING farmers' market could move to a more prominent site in Northallerton quicker than expected, if councillors sanction the move at a meeting later this week.

Stall holders at the market on the Applegarth car park behind the High Street have complained that keeping them out of the town centre has done nothing for their trade.

The fact the monthly event is held on a different day to the town's weekly market is also thought to put farmers at a disadvantage, and there were fears the initiative introduced to help ease the crisis in the countryside could dwindle and die.

In response, Hambleton District Council agreed to examine the arrangements and ordered a six-month review which was meant to conclude with a series of recommendations to the authority's cabinet.

However, when members meet on Thursday, they will sit down to a report which recommends they disregard the six-month time scale and act as soon as possible.

The preferred solution is to relocate the farmers market to an area adjacent to Northallerton Town Hall.

Originally, there was concern the chosen site would not be big enough to accommodate all the stall holders who attend the farmers' market regularly - which was why the Applegarth car park was seen as the only realistic alternative.

The Northern Farmers' Market Co-operative has since acquired smaller stalls and agreed to share generators and refrigerated vehicles to limit the amount of space required.

Northallerton's taxi rank would still have to move if the farmers' market relocates to the High Street - but the fact 82 per cent of those consulted still back the idea has proved a powerful argument. As a result, the report recommends - to begin with - cabbies are moved to a temporary rank outside Grovers on the monthly farmers market days.

However, Hambleton District Council would negotiate with North Yorkshire County Council's highways department to establish if the new base for the taxis can become a permanent one.

As well as recommending action as soon as possible, the cabinet meeting on Thursday will also be asked to review the market's health again after a year in the new location.