A number of stallholders who attend Cupar farmers’ market in Crossgate have threatened never to return if there is a repeat of “harassment” some customers experienced from Yes Scotland campaigners last weekend, it has been claimed.
Cupar Community Council was told profits for some traders were down 50% at last weekend’s event and they blamed the “in your face” presence of Yes Scotland, who were canvassing public opinion at the edge of the market close to the junction of Crossgate and St Catherine Street.
Cupar Community Council chairman Canon Pat McInally said the campaigners, who have been at the centre of an ongoing row over their right to leaflet in the area on farmers’ market days, were “doing Cupar no favours”.
Following last Saturday’s farmers’ market, Cupar in Bloom volunteer Vicky Coull said Yes Scotland campaigners had been challenged by the farmers’ market organiser about their lack of street licence.
But she said no attention was paid to this, and they continued to promote themselves.
Mrs Coull said: “They should have been moved, or better still not been permitted to turn a community event in the town into a political one.
“What is normally a good vibe and community activity in the town was spoilt they took trade away from the market stalls, and donations away from Cupar in Bloom.
“Cupar in Bloom and the farmers’ market support the town all year round it was a great shame to see it spoilt.”
North East Fife Yes Scotland coordinator and Cupar community councillor Andy Collins defended their right to free speech on farmers’ market days and has claimed the campaigners’ presence was “not a problem”.
He also confirmed campaigners intend to keep canvassing on market days.
Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram said previously her interpretation of Fife Council guidance was that people standing on a pavement, exercising their right to free speech or handing out leaflets is within their rights, and breaches no transport-related legislation.
That stance came after the rights of those distributing leaflets were questioned by Cupar Community Council secretary Douglas Provan.
Mr Provan had questioned whether Yes Scotland was legally permitted to operate from the pavement at the corner of Crossgate/Bonnygate when the farmers’ market was in operation.
He had spoken to the organisers of Fife Farmers’ Market Ltd, which holds an event in Crossgate once a month. They confirmed they had not given it their blessing.
Fife Council had earlier suggested a permit was required to distribute leaflets but Ms Marjoram said her research had confirmed no documentation is required so long as distributors do not have a physical stall.
Explaining that she had studied the temporary traffic regulation order for the farmers’ market, she said it was “quite clear” the restriction is for the roadway only, and the wording of the order is quite clear in that it is to prohibit the use of vehicular traffic.
Fife Council transportation official Rod Cox confirmed that no permission was granted for the Yes Scotland campaign to be there.
He said the advice they have been given by a Fife councillor was incorrect, as a road closure includes both the footway and carriageways not just the road. This meant that the Yes Scotland campaigners were acting without permission.
Fife Council has repeatedly made it clear the positioning of a table on the road or for the purposes of the act, a footway would still require permission.