A FARMERS’ market has been “forced” to move because its current venue started charging people to park.

Aldenham Farmers Market was based at Aldenham Country Park, off Dagger Lane, Elstree, on the last Saturday of each month. It moves this week to Aldenham Social Club, in Church Lane, Aldenham, after Hertfordshire County Council started to charge visitors to enter the park grounds.

For the past four years, the country park has opened its gates, offering free access to the market from 10am to 5pm. Two months ago the council reversed this decision, saying it was losing revenue and implemented a £5 charge after 12pm.

Jodie Bright, market organiser, said: “My hand has been forced.

“Closing the gate early only gave people a two-hour window in which visit the market for free. This restriction has effectively killed the market. There was an awful upset among customers, they really were shocked when they were suddenly charged for entry,” she said.

Ms Bright, who sells her free-range eggs there, said: “The earnings went from £200 to £100 in a month.”

But, she says the change of venue has been a blessing in disguise. Currently a 12 to 20 stall outfit, Ms Bright now wants businesses to get involved and hopes the event will eventually expand to become a ‘farmers and community’ market.

“The change of venue is the perfect opportunity to invite local businesses to come in. Some are struggling at the moment and the market can offer that extra exposure.

“But we don’t want bric-a-brac. We want to keep it a quality market, with lots of nice things to entice people to visit.

“When we were at the country park we weren’t allowed to sell any food that could be classified as take-away, due the kiosk next door. Now stall holders can expand their range of goods.”

Hertfordshire County Council said it had to make the decision to charge for parking as it was losing money from the site, after paying for advertising and staff to clear up after the market.

In a statement, the council said: "We wrote to the organiser in April saying we had to minimise our losses and explained we would stop advertising the market and placing the signs. However we did offer the organiser the signs to put up themselves.

"The organiser did not respond to this letter and we only recently found out that the market would be relocating. We did not ask them to leave. We are very pleased they have found a new site and wish them all the best for the future."