A decision to revitalise a town centre by introducing a new ‘best of Kent’ market has been put on hold.

A motion was put to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to launch the weekly market in the high street by the Labour group this month.

Members say the market would boost footfall in Ashford by selling the best produce in the county - including local food, ale, wine, clothes, and crafts.

The suggestion was supported by traders and shoppers, who said it is exactly what is needed to get the town centre bustling again.

But at ABC’s full council meeting on October 19, a decision on launching the market was deferred.

Cllr Diccon Spain (Lab), who proposed the motion, pointed out that other UK councils had undertaken similar measures and been successful after appointing expert market managers to help run it.

Introducing a market can be “incredibly successful at lighting that fuse to really make the town absolutely thrive, and we desperately need something in the town centre to do that,” he said.

“All of us I think share the aspirations for a fantastic vibrant Ashford, we want to see all those great shops come back, especially independent shops to give us a really unique offer.

“We want to attract other people in; we want businesses to relocate here. All of that I think will be massively helped by having a really great market.”

Labour group leader Cllr Brendan Chilton seconded the motion, saying: “I think it has received a phenomenal level of support in the community and that is because Ashford is fundamentally a market town.”

The motion requests that the market launches in March next year, and run from 9am to 4.30pm every Saturday on the High Street.

However the motion was deferred in order to give council officers time to look over the proposals. A report will be prepared for a later date.

It comes as the Ashford Independent-Green coalition at ABC are trying to make savings left over from the previous Conservative administration.

One idea is to move the council offices from the Civic Centre in Tannery Lane to International House, which will save the authority £1.3m a year.

ABC bought International House - the town’s tallest building - in 2014 in a £7.9 million deal.

A decision on this move was due to be made at the same meeting, but it was also deferred.

“This is not an attempt to stop the move, I have absolutely no sentimental attachment to bricks and mortar,” said Cllr Chilton, who proposed the deferral.

“This is just a proposal to ensure that all members are making a decision based on absolute adequate and full information.”