TRADERS at Petersfield’s popular Folly Market have been handed welcome good news after the uncertainty of last year.

The landlord of their arcade building said this week he was happy to extend the lease for a further 20 years.

The lease, held by Jerry Hicks of the Folly Wine Bar, was likely to be confirmed before the current lease expired, which is in March 2017.

This ends months of worry for the independent unit holders after landlord Philip Rose Ltd investigated the possibility of demolishing the arcade to create retail outlets and flats.

This did not fit in with the planning criteria of the town, East Hampshire District Council planners said.

And that the new year is starting on a more positive footing has come as a relief to those traders who rent units there, some of them for many years, and to shoppers who signed protest petitions in their hundreds.

The uncertainty about the Folly’s future has affected footfall so it is hoped visitor numbers will be boosted again with the news, which was given out on Monday via a letter from town estate agent Henry Adams.

There are still reservations, particularly about the 30-day lease unit holders have. “It’s good news fundamentally,” said Andy Krauze, who has run Chinwags sandwich bar with his wife Jo there for 15 years.

“I?would still like something solid in writing though and, as far as the 30 day contract goes, we need to know where we are at.”

He wanted to make improvements to the patio area outside but wouldn’t fork out unless he had it guaranteed he was going to be there for a lengthy period.

The contract was an issue too for Elizabeth Hayward, of Dragon Treasures, who marks her 21st anniversary at the Folly in March.

“It looks like it’s all systems go,” said Elaine Eves, of Duncan Eves Jewellers, a Folly favourite for 17 years. “It’s still a bit uncertain but we are carrying on with business as usual. The general thing is we don’t need more flats, we need to help small businesses.”

“We are optimistic, we think it’s all going through,” added Angie Hughes of The Curiosity Shop.

David Kerrigan is moving his Sweeney Todd barbers around the corner to Folly Lane, opening on March 1. But this was due to wanting to expand rather than uncertainty or contract issues.

“It’s been an absolutely brilliant place to be,” he said. “A lovely little enclave.”