TRADERS at Gloucester Green antiques and crafts market were pleased to see the article (September 9, Thursday traders protest at council plan to lease market) – as it gave exposure to our issue with Oxford City Council, namely it appointed a new market management company without consulting the people who really know what makes this market unique: the traders.

This is, however, the tip of the iceberg.

Our deepest fear is the council will continue to ignore us and consequently, the vibrancy, quirkiness and atmosphere of the market will be lost, much to Oxford’s detriment.

Collectively, stallholders at the Thursday market have over 400 years’ experience and knowledge. But for some reason, our views on the future of antiques markets in Oxford were never canvassed.

Traders are eager to work with the new company to make the market even more successful.

And yet nearly two weeks have passed since the council announced the deal had been signed but we still don’t know what we traders (also council tax-payers and voters) can expect on October 2 when the new company’s tenure begins.

We have numerous unanswered questions – 25 at the last count – about how the market will operate from the first day of the new contract.

And we will be presenting these questions to the council later this week.

Maybe then, finally, the council will listen to the views of people who know what makes an antiques market work.

GARY JAMES MERRILL, PAUL OTTER, MICHAEL BENFIELD, Martin Court, Summertown, Oxford