Oxford’s historic Covered Market will open on Sundays on a permanent basis, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

In May last year, the city council launched a Sunday trading trial at the 18th century market to see how many traders would be in favour of the move.

Now council leaders have decided there is enough support to make the arrangement permanent.

Last year they said Sunday opening would become permanent if 75 per cent of traders supported it, but only about 50 per cent backed the change.

Now, despite the difference of opinion between traders, Labour councillors have decided to open the market every Sunday.

This followed a survey of 53 traders last month, in which 29 supported the move, eight were opposed and 16 failed to respond.

John Partington, who runs Chocology chocolate and coffee shop and is a director of the Covered Market Traders’ Association, said: “Now the decision has been made, I expect more traders to get on board. I’ve had some really good Sundays, some reasonable ones and a couple of shockers.

“I think it’s naive to expect Sunday trading to be an instant hit, but my competitors are open on Sunday. It’s time the market was dragged into the 21st century.”

Michael Feller, manager of Feller butchers, said: “I don’t think the survey was properly conducted so I don’t agree with these figures.

“There should be a proper meeting of all traders and a vote in a room so that everyone can see a show of hands.

“I have no objection to people working on Sunday, but I fear traders will end up paying for this change and I don’t want that.

“We tried opening at Christmas and it was a disaster.”

Colin Cook, the council’s member for the city centre, said: “There will still be some traders who will never open on Sunday for a variety of reasons but now the arrangement is being made permanent, we hope more traders will take up the opportunity.

“If the Covered Market is vibrant seven days a week there will be knock-on benefits for the city as a whole.”

In a letter to traders, Steve Sprayson, the council’s interim head of corporate assets, said: “We understand of course that a minority of traders do not support Sunday opening, but members believe that this course of action is in the best overall interest of the Covered Market and will help to guarantee a profitable and vibrant future.”

Mr Cook said the £30,000 annual cost of opening the market on Sunday would continue to be met by the council.

But he admitted there could be a service charge as a result of the new arrangement.

A £100,000 refurbishment scheme, jointly funded by the city and county councils, started earlier this year at the market off High Street.