CHANGES to the operating hours of the Indoor Market in Oswestry could be on the way after councillors raised the possibility of making it 'more professional'.

At the town council's Markets and Town Centre committee meeting last week, town centre manager David Clough delivered his latest update on the current market status.

After he delivered his report, Oswestry mayor Councillor Mark Jones raised the possibility of the market hall, which is on the Bailey Head, opening longer than its current three days a week.

He also expressed whether a market in the town could reflect the diversity of foreign nationals currently living in Oswestry.

He said: "Do we need to think about opening the indoor market on a more regular basis?

"Do we need to make it a professional market?

"I’ve also noticed that we have more foreign people coming through and we need to think about getting into communities to get more of a voice.

"This would bring them to us and us to them.

"It’s a good market and we need to do more for it as councillors and well done to David who puts lots of effort in."

The mayor's comments were largely accepted by his peers, with his deputy mayor Cllr Jay Moore stating that while previous attempts at longer hours have failed, some traders – such as those in food and drink – would welcome the hours.

Councillors agreed that Mr Clough and town clerk Arren Roberts would look into ways of creating a longer partnership between council and traders.

Meanwhile, Mr Roberts was also delegated powers to negotiate with broadband provider Full Fibre who – as part of their way of targeting new homes in rural areas including Oswestry – have made a bid to sponsor Christmas Live next month.

Councillors were given a presentation by Matt Smith, from Full Fibre, who explained what his company is intended to do.

The company initially offered £500 for a level of sponsorship that included named banners, gazebos with information and a marketing board – however, Markets chairman Cllr Rosie Radford argued the event was bigger than that.

A motion from Cllr Duncan Kerr led to councillors given the clerk full powers to negotiate a sponsorship.