Liberal Democrat councillors have been left angered after Haringey Council refused to support efforts by local traders to have an archaic ruling that restricts Saturday trading removed.

The move came in a written answer at the Full Council meeting on Monday following efforts by the Lib Dems to remove a royal charter which stops the Ally Pally farmers market taking place on a Saturday. The party has vowed to keep pursuing the issue.

The Lib Dems asked the Labour leadership if they would approach the Old Enfield Charitable Trust with a view to persuade them to seek an alteration to the Royal Charter, which dates back to 1601. As it stands, the Charter held by the obscure body does not allow a market within six miles to be open on a Saturday – the same day as Enfield holds its own market.

The Labour Council rejected the request citing a number of reasons including the belief that the Sunday Farmers’ Market was currently ‘free from problems’ and that Haringey Council has no ‘direct interest’ in it and thus was uninterested in getting involved.

The Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson, Jonathan Bloch has expressed his disappointment at the Council’s answer. He has already gained support from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which has agreed to a request made last month to investigate the issue.

Cllr Jonathan Bloch (Muswell Hill) comments:

“It is very disappointing that Haringey Council has been so negative in its response. We were asking them to support local traders who want to have the option of trading on a Saturday. Instead the Council has simply listed reasons for not supporting the change.

“Removing this charter would help our local economy. We will continue to support the efforts by local traders to secure an end to this bizarre Charter. It is an unacceptable and unfair restriction on doing business in Haringey and it should be removed.”