TRADERS in Petersfield’s Folly Market have welcomed the news that planners have ruled development there a no-go.

There is relief – for the time being anyway – among the unit tenants, and hundreds of Save our Folly Market campaigners, that East District District Council is protecting the arcade. The authority was approached by the arcade owner for pre-application advice on whether it would be possible to demolish the historic town feature and build flats there.

“In this case we were firm in our response that we would not support the loss of retail units in a town centre like this,” said a council spokesman. “We believe it would have an adverse impact on the Petersfield Conservation Area.”

Such a development would go against national and local planning guidelines. “Any scheme which caused harm to the local and historic environment would not receive our support,” he added.

Andy Krauze, of Chinwags, said it was great to have the support of the council, and its understanding of what Petersfield needed.

But tenants are still worried about what they still see as an uncertain future when their leases run out in 18 months’ time.