MOVING Bolton's busy monthly Farmers' Market again could be gambling with its popularity.

It first started life at Smithills Hall, which seemed to be an ideal setting.

Changes in the management of the venue meant that the council shifted it to Moss Bank Park a year ago where it has become a major attraction.

Now, the council says this is no longer big enough as 11 traders are waiting to join, and it is considering town-centre sites like the Ashburner Street Market and out-of-town sites.

Let's hope they don't bring it into the town centre.

The whole idea of Farmers' Markets is to showcase local produce in a rural setting. They offer a different retail day out, usually somewhere you can park with relative ease and also enjoy a different buying pace and atmosphere.

While moving it centrally might boost numbers coming into the town centre, it could easily change its character too much and kill it off. Surely, among the established parks and countryside across the borough, there is another, more suitable venue available. Otherwise, why not leave it alone and try to find ways to expand it at Moss Bank?