THE last piece in the jigsaw of running Royston s twice-a-week market has been put place. A new manager took up her position on Saturday – just weeks after Royston Town Council had been awarded the contract to run the market from North Herts District Coun

THE last piece in the jigsaw of running Royston's twice-a-week market has been put place.

A new manager took up her position on Saturday - just weeks after Royston Town Council had been awarded the contract to run the market from North Herts District Council.

For the next three years the town council will receive a subsidy of £49,332-a-year to run the market.

New manager Emma Burgess told The Crow during yesterday's market day: "We really want to make this a vibrant market.

"There is a lot of potential and we are looking to the future in a positive way," she said.

She said that the current traders "really want to help in the future of the market".

She is hoping, too, to attract new stalls to the market with the help of a working party which has been set up by the town council.

The town council was awarded the contract for the market after the district council decided to "privatise" the operation.

The district council went through the procedure twice before deciding that the town council should be the "preferred bidder".

Even then the town council was involved in lenghty negotiations before a 30-page document was drawn up.

In June, the town council approved a recommendation from its finance committee to take over the market.

The decision came after a behind-closed-doors meeting of finance committee members took place to examine the details of the contract.