A GWYNEDD town’s regular market day could be changed at the request of some of the regular stallholders.

Next week, Gwynedd Council’s General Licensing Sub-Committee will discuss a bid to move Porthmadog’s weekly market from Fridays to Thursdays.

However, the proposals have seemingly split opinion among its regular stall- holders, with seven in favour of the change with nine wanting to see the current arrangements stay as they are.

Porthmadog market currently operates at Heol y Parc car park between 8.30am to 5pm, from the first Friday before Good Friday until the last Friday in December.

A recent consultation among its regular traders found that some feared a move to Thursday would see it compete with Barmouth market, which is already held on the same day, but others felt it would avoid competition with Bangor which also holds its market day on Fridays.

The consultation report noted: “The public are used to the market being on a Friday and there is a possibility that existing traders will lose regular customers and the business which they have worked hard to build up over years of attending the Friday market.”

However, it also found: “There is a possibility of attracting new traders on a Thursday.

“The individual who made the request has intimated the possibility of new traders showing an interest in attending on a Thursday and is intending to fill the car park.”

The authority’s public protection service has also consulted with the highways department who is responsible for the car park and Porthmadog Town Council, who have expressed no objections either way as long as any signage is bilingual.