THE first Sunday opening of Oxford’s Covered Market was last night hailed as a success.

The historic market,was opened yesterday as part of a three month pilot scheme to see if trading seven days a week could help traders battle the recession.

Florist Elissa Sharpe, of The Garden flower shop, said her store had a good response to the new trading hours.

She said: “It hasn’t been as busy as usual but I think it’s a matter of people finding out we are open on Sundays.

“It’s a good opportunity for people to shop here on a Sunday because people don’t always get a chance in the week.

“We are quite happy with it so far and feel quite positive about it.”

Ray Lindsey, of Haymans Fisheries, said: “It was a slow start, but it certainly picked up in the afternoon.

“I think it will pick up over the next six to eight weeks.

“Just half of the shops were open today, but we were quietly pleased. Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Shopkeepers had been calling on Oxford City Council to do more to highlight the 18th century market for months after the Labour administration withdrew £50,000 for much-needed refurbishment work last year.

The money was promised to traders after some suffered inflation-busting rent increases last year, although the council has invested in new lighting inside the market.

New Lord Mayor of Oxford Mary Clarkson, who until last week had responsibility for the Covered Market, said: “This is an initiative I supported to benefit traders.

“I know some traders don’t want to open and that’s entirely up to them. We are certainly not going to force anyone to open. But some do and they should be able to. I expect others may follow.”

Jon Adams, his wife and their seven children, from Witney, were disappointed that only half the shops were open — two they wanted to use were shut.

But he said: “It’s a good idea. Sunday is the best day for us to go shopping, what with having seven children. There’s less traffic and not as many people in the street.

“We would definitely go again provided more stores were open. But I think it is early days.”

It the pilot scheme is successful it could be made permanent after the three months.

The market has previously only opened on Sunday during Christmas.

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