Cllr Pickles could have made this case without the crude reference to the World Wars just because this market is selling German goods.

Would he be such a crusader if they were seeling traditional Olde English wares?

He's betraying his poorly hidden xenophobia here.

Pretty dumb comment from this councillor on a topic that needs more sensible approaches.

Just got home from the market and I think its good, can't see what this fuss from the Ukip guy is about. Likening it to the wars isn't that tasteful.

Are UKIP really as stupid as this article suggests.
Had the existing market traders approached Sutton Council they may well have been able to bid to put their pitches up the top of the High Street.
Firstly the council are getting a fair bit of rent from the market more than that which i believe the traders could have affordedand this has gone towards the xmas decorations in the town centre.
Secondly: What is wrong with trying to put a bit of razzamatazz ibto Suttons retail offer at Xmas when they are competing with Croydon,Epsom and Kingston.
Thirdly,why did Cllr Pickles not compalin about the French and Italian markets when he could have done.
He is being short sighted petty minded and totally Xenophobic with his comments about the wars.
Why did Cllr Pickles not speak on the motion last week at full council in favour of raising the Union Flag above Civic. Probably because there were no cameras there.
If that is what UKIP is about then they will be seen through very quickly

To shoehorn seven excruciating references to the Second World War in an article about a visiting German market is crude and tasteless. As for Councillor Pickles' remarks, I wouldn't expect anything else from a UKIP politician.
This is 2007, and also the time of year in which we solemnly remember those who gave their lives in the two world wars which you so casually refer to.
Our older generations fought against a Germany that no longer exists, and hasn't done since 1945. To equate a few German curiosity sellers to the Nazi war machine may seem like fun, but it is irresponsible.
I suspect they will receive enough war-related taunts and abuse from some elements of our borough over the next few weeks. You should be ashamed of yourselves for adding to it.

If Coun. Pickles thinks this kind of schoolboy nonsense is a hallmark of a local politician he is very much mistaken..

Quite frankly his comments are pathetic and he should ashamed And no Cllr Pickles this isn't the fabled political correctness you love to conjour up. They are serious reservations about your tone and judgement.

If you read this: I think you should consider your position following your nauseating references. After all you conned your way into your councillorship let people judge you on this rot

I agree with the above messages. If I were David Pickles I would be highly embarassed by this stupid comparison of a German market to a German invasion. He hasn't done the market traders any favours, that's for sure.

What a rank amateur, he can't even keep a lid on his blatant xenophobia anymore.

Yet again this Council bashes the local market traders,after they moved them "out of site" to the bottom of the High Street.All these markets sell over priced goods and I would urge people to boycott them in favour of our own market traders.The difference here is the German market is around for 3 weeks, whereas the FrenchItalian are only here for a few days.Note to Councillor Cowley - this is how you spell COMPLAIN

Tony B

I agree that the situation is not ideal for the market traders but why dont they put their greivances to the council rather than running off to a Xenophobic Cllr which will not do their cause one iota of good.
Cllr Pickles comments only distract from the real issue.
If this market drags extra footfall into the town centre then there will be all round benefits for everybody.

By the way this is how you spell my name Crowley.
But i wont complain.

Personally speaking as a consumer, I'd rather see international markets over chavy hooped ear ring salemen and cheap garbage being sold by some local stallholders. It's really a matter of class versus Del Boy, and class wins out for many residents bar none generally. Helps bring the area up to a higher standard, and let's face it, no one really buys much from any of the stalls local or international, we are surrounded by discount stores that serve our needs just fine, something different is what is needed on the streets and a German market seems quiet appropriate during the Christmas season, their markets are well known draws for those on holiday coach trips so why not bring a little to Sutton for those who can't go to Germany, or France, or anywhere else that will give us a bit of variety. The only people really complaining are those selling the stuff in cheap stalls. The fresh fruit and veg from local stallholders is really nice, but do we really need someone selling Irish folk cds and cheap makeup year round? Sure, they can have a space for those who want that sort of thing but the top end of the High Street, it's nice to see something a bit more pleasing to the palate.

i've never been bowled over by the quality of our markets.

sutton's high street isn't that great.
anything the council can help do to make it better/more attractive to consumers is to be welcomed.

but why ukip councilor has dragged up WW1 and WW2 is rather pathetic. looks like david pickles is one of the knocked-off market stall's best customers

Goods news for the market traders, as a representative of the Council thinks their situation is not ideal.Look forward to hearing that they can move back up the High Street in the New Year.
Also look forward to Mr Pickles with his loud hailer on Saturday !!!!!

Tony B
I am not a representative of the council but an elected member of the council.
Cllr Pickles can go out in Sutton High Street with his loud hailer but what is he going to shout?
He needs to be careful because as i said earlier he is just going to make himself look foolish.
Tony B if you have an issue get hold of me via the Civic Offices.
I will be only too happy to help and unlike Cllr Pickles i might be able to help.

Well done Cllr Pickles - You have stood up (rightfully) for the residents of Sutton. We are FED up with over priced Italian,French and now German rubbish.Do these countries welcome us with our markets? - I think NOT. I walked into Sutton today and if you try to walk past WH Smiths with a pram its impossible and its not even the busiest time yet. Yet again Sutton Council has let their residents down for the sight of a quick buck(By the way - How much are they paying in rent and who is paying for the clearing up of their rubbish?

If its overpriced dont but it that is your choice.
How wide is your pram as i was out today and there was ample room.
On the other hand it might not be wide enough for Cllr Pickles ego..

I cannot believe that we are losing sight of the utterly disgraceful standard of reporting here. What happened? Is Heather Darlington some kind of work experience student that managed to get a bigoted and poorly-written article through whilst the Editor was on holiday? If not then both should be on a final written warning. What is this? Carry On Up the High Street? How about a couple of Zulu references for good measure? This kind of copy writing is right on the edge of inciting racial hatred and is inexcusable – how on earth did it get through? How dare some local rag half-wit belittle the events of the Second World War. ‘Fear the Wurst’ is a weak pun that’d even make Jimmy Tarbuck wince, the remainder are borderline-legal racial taunts.

Oh, and what exactly is this reference to ‘we fought twice”? In which campaign did Pickles participate? Are you sure you were on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 or are you confusing that with the campaign against Asian newsagents in the 1970s?

Neither monkey-boy Pickles or this standard of reporting have any place in a modern society. IÂ’ll-educated, opportunist thugs.

Hear Hear Sutton Shopper - at last someone else speaking some sense.You know of course that your Council Tax is paying for the clear up.No doubt the money paid by the German market will be wasted by the Council on another hare brained scheme.Perhaps a reciprocal trip to Germany to see how markets are run?

I cannot believe that we are losing sight of the utterly disgraceful standard of reporting here. What happened? Is Heather Darlington some kind of work experience student that managed to get a bigoted and poorly-written article through whilst the Editor was on holiday? If not then both should be on a final written warning. What is this? Carry On Up the High Street? How about a couple of Zulu references for good measure? This kind of copy writing is right on the edge of inciting racial hatred and is inexcusable – how on earth did it get through? How dare some local rag half-wit belittle the events of the Second World War. ‘Fear the Wurst’ is a weak pun that’d even make Jimmy Tarbuck wince, the remainder are borderline-legal racial taunts.

Oh, and what exactly is this reference to ‘we fought twice”? In which campaign did Pickles participate? Are you sure you were on the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 or are you confusing that with the campaign against Asian newsagents in the 1970s?

Neither monkey-boy Pickles or this standard of reporting have any place in a modern society. IÂ’ll-educated, opportunist thugs.

I can't believe so many chavs prefer cheapo knock off crap in local stalls that make our high street look down market. So what if some single mother can't push her double pram down the street to sit in front of mcdonalds. So what if someone who doesn't work can't afford something nice from a stall on their beneift cheques. The rest of us may like something a bit better than cheap makeup that fell off a lorry, cds only a pub would play, brass bracelet and earring sets, and other chav staples. Not everyone is a chav in Sutton, some of us do like nice things and most of the year the stallholders locally get their way and put out junk for the masses but it's nice that occassionally something better comes along. Well done Sutton Council for not always catering to the chavs. I couldn't care less if I offend the chavs, their pushchairs full of babies that my taxes pay for offend my bank account. It's not all about how many Chelsea bathmats or pot smoking paraphernalia one can sell.

Has anyone from Trading Standards checked their food hygiene certificate?
Other wise people stupid enough to consume this food are going to be using the Macdonalds toilets a lot more than the Chavs!
Good Luck to all that eat there - By the way the telephone number for St Helier is 0208296 2000

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600
employees and has the following statistics?

29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad cheques

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

4 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Which organization is this?

It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks
out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in
line.
So why believe any politician?

Well I must say, I am quite pleased that this story has stirred the local imagination. However, I'm not surprised that Cllr Tim Crowley is attempting to be King Canute and smear me with all sorts of hypocratic nonsense, when he, as a junior member of the council, has done nothing to assist the market traders, nor has the political nous to. For his information, and those who have "had a go" here, the facts are this. Last Tuesday, I was contacted by the market traders (who probably wanted a councillor who could actually do something as opposed to those who mouth off and achieve nothing). I suggested to them that the quickest way to highlight their situation would be publicity in the press. They agreed. I contacted Heather Darlington - who incidentally is one of the best reporters the Guardian has had in recent times - and she took my quotes. The throwaway line about being "invaded" was jocular, but of course the lefty-liberals (and Cllr Crowley who appears to be a mouthpiece for the new Scully Tories) fell for it hook line and sinker. The important point here is that these are OUR local traders, and they have been trampled on. I have written a letter to the Guardian this week outlining the way forward on this. Cllr Crowley with his infantile attempts to make the local Tories look electable would do well to learn from this. What have the Tories or the Lib-Dems ever done to stand up for our people? The answer is precisely nothing. Perhaps the Tories are getting a trifle concerned at the publicity one of their ex's is getting. Coming back down to earth the important people here are the market traders. They asked me to represent them, and represent them I will.

I appreciate that in the main Councillors and Councils are marching to a Common Purpose to pander to the obscenities of Political Correctness and it is then a bit idiotic to invoke two wars started by Germany and supported by the odious Vichy French and the likes of Francois Mitterand & Klaus Barbie but one can understand the ire, when one has read Walter Funk's EUropaische Wiertschaft Gemeinschaft of 1942 and realises the Treaty of Rome was effectively drawn up by Funk as Hitler's Reichs Minister together with Heidrich who later in the same year wrote his 'Reichs OPlan for the domination of EUrope. To then note the Franks as one of the Germanic tribes were the only co signator to The Treaty of Elysee agreeing France & Germany would meet before EVERY EU Conference (IGC) and arrange what was in their beast interests as THEIR agenda - one has to wonder where this famous EUropean Union is as it feels more like vassal status in a corrupt undemocratic EUropean soviet - now we have these grubby little QUANGO parasites organising French & German Markets with lax hygene and trading standards in our market Towns where our own traders pay rates and taxes and have these overpriced markets supported by their so called public servants.
In the main I find Snivil Cervants seem to be employed and feather bedded to attack & demean our society as are our Politicians and what voice have we with the corrupted BBC peddling propaganda, repeats and trash voyeurism.
May I suggest that schools teach Chinese as a compulsory language as that will be our only hope when the corrupt, incompetent and venal EU collapses in the wars of disassociation!
Roll on - No terrorists in history have damage or betrayed these United Kingdoms as consequentially as our self seeking Politicians and Snivil Cervants who are much more dangerous - best I take care not to run for the tube - lest the enemy use it as an excuse to murder me I also eschew carrying chair legs!
Regards, Greg L-W.

However, I'm not surprised that Cllr Tim Crowley is attempting to be King Canutequote

The good Councillor would seem to be in something of an educationally challenge 'Pickle' if he seeks to liken the young Tim Crowley with the wisdom of King Canute.
King Canute's wisdom was so great that it has stretched across many centuries will this 'Pickle' be known much beyond his 15 minutes of fame or at best the ledgend he becomes in his own lunchtime being one of 5 EUkip councillors out of the 19,500 councillors in Britain.
Forefend dear sir but it was the good King who to make fools of his sychophants and toadies who ordered his throne to the foreshore to PROVE he could not hold back the tide and was not as omnipotent as the toadies claimed for self aggrandisement.

Perhaps a lesson that might keep the council out of the Pickle in the future as they will have to be far more adroit and show greater wisdom if they wish to keep our age old continental neighbours at bay!
Regards,
Greg L-W.

I feel a comment is needed on this free for all on this issue. First of all I would like to congratulate Cllr Pickles, because as we are aware this is still a free country and we still have the right to speak. Having read all the feedback on this matter, there is obviously a personal issue and it should not be aired between the councillors. I believe that Cllr Pickles is doing what he is paid for and that is to stand and serve the residents of Sutton. On the wider issue, we are forgetting that it is not just the local traders that are going to suffer, but all other eateries in Sutton who serve us well throughout the year and who look forward to Christmas to try and re coup some of the losses that they make in the lean months.These people are paying business rates that are not cheap and this goes towards paying all the Councillors wages. So in future before Sutton Council impose these markets on the businesses on the high street, maybe someone should get their opinions and perhaps a vote of hands.It seems that nobody has answered the very important issues of food hygiene and the costs involved to Sutton residents. Maybe Cllrs this should be the important issue that need to be addressed.

Francis wrote:
Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600 employees and has the following statistics? 29 have been accused of spouse abuse 7 have been arrested for fraud 19 have been accused of writing bad cheques 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses 3 have done time for assault 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit 4 have been arrested on drug-related charges 8 have been arrested for shoplifting 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits 84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year Which organization is this? It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. So why believe any politician?

what the f#ck is this supposed to mean?

Cllr David Pickles wrote:
Well I must say, I am quite pleased that this story has stirred the local imagination. However, I'm not surprised that Cllr Tim Crowley is attempting to be King Canute and smear me with all sorts of hypocratic nonsense, when he, as a junior member of the council, has done nothing to assist the market traders, nor has the political nous to. For his information, and those who have "had a go" here, the facts are this. Last Tuesday, I was contacted by the market traders (who probably wanted a councillor who could actually do something as opposed to those who mouth off and achieve nothing). I suggested to them that the quickest way to highlight their situation would be publicity in the press. They agreed. I contacted Heather Darlington - who incidentally is one of the best reporters the Guardian has had in recent times - and she took my quotes. The throwaway line about being "invaded" was jocular, but of course the lefty-liberals (and Cllr Crowley who appears to be a mouthpiece for the new Scully Tories) fell for it hook line and sinker. The important point here is that these are OUR local traders, and they have been trampled on. I have written a letter to the Guardian this week outlining the way forward on this. Cllr Crowley with his infantile attempts to make the local Tories look electable would do well to learn from this. What have the Tories or the Lib-Dems ever done to stand up for our people? The answer is precisely nothing. Perhaps the Tories are getting a trifle concerned at the publicity one of their ex's is getting. Coming back down to earth the important people here are the market traders. They asked me to represent them, and represent them I will.

Five green bottles, sitting on the wall...

Linda wrote:
Cllr Pickles could have made this case without the crude reference to the World Wars just because this market is selling German goods.

Would he be such a crusader if they were seeling traditional Olde English wares?

He's betraying his poorly hidden xenophobia here.

I don't see why you should bring the Crusades into this argument Linda!

Cllr David Pickles wrote:
Well I must say, I am quite pleased that this story has stirred the local imagination. However, I'm not surprised that Cllr Tim Crowley is attempting to be King Canute and smear me with all sorts of hypocratic nonsense, when he, as a junior member of the council, has done nothing to assist the market traders, nor has the political nous to. For his information, and those who have "had a go" here, the facts are this. Last Tuesday, I was contacted by the market traders (who probably wanted a councillor who could actually do something as opposed to those who mouth off and achieve nothing). I suggested to them that the quickest way to highlight their situation would be publicity in the press. They agreed. I contacted Heather Darlington - who incidentally is one of the best reporters the Guardian has had in recent times - and she took my quotes. The throwaway line about being "invaded" was jocular, but of course the lefty-liberals (and Cllr Crowley who appears to be a mouthpiece for the new Scully Tories) fell for it hook line and sinker. The important point here is that these are OUR local traders, and they have been trampled on. I have written a letter to the Guardian this week outlining the way forward on this. Cllr Crowley with his infantile attempts to make the local Tories look electable would do well to learn from this. What have the Tories or the Lib-Dems ever done to stand up for our people? The answer is precisely nothing. Perhaps the Tories are getting a trifle concerned at the publicity one of their ex's is getting. Coming back down to earth the important people here are the market traders. They asked me to represent them, and represent them I will.

Oh yes, well done Mr. Pickles. You've really stood up for the people. Now these poor market traders now have their legitimate cause linked to your ill thought out jingoistic remarks.

You've undermined their cause and made them a laughing stock in the process. Give yourself a pat on the back, big boy. You're a real hero.

Greg LANCE-WATKINS wrote:

However, I'm not surprised that Cllr Tim Crowley is attempting to be King Canutequote

The good Councillor would seem to be in something of an educationally challenge 'Pickle' if he seeks to liken the young Tim Crowley with the wisdom of King Canute. King Canute's wisdom was so great that it has stretched across many centuries will this 'Pickle' be known much beyond his 15 minutes of fame or at best the ledgend he becomes in his own lunchtime being one of 5 EUkip councillors out of the 19,500 councillors in Britain. Forefend dear sir but it was the good King who to make fools of his sychophants and toadies who ordered his throne to the foreshore to PROVE he could not hold back the tide and was not as omnipotent as the toadies claimed for self aggrandisement. Perhaps a lesson that might keep the council out of the Pickle in the future as they will have to be far more adroit and show greater wisdom if they wish to keep our age old continental neighbours at bay! Regards, Greg L-W.

WHF?

How refreshing that Cllr Pickles has once again sparked a debate within the borough. Having lived in Belmont since the 1950's I can say in all honesty that he has been one of the hardest working and most popular councillors that we have had. As an earlier poster said "He is being paid to do his job", and that is exactly what he is doing. He stands up for those who need a voice and support and if Cllr Crowley, who seemed to delight in making personal attacks, can achieve half of what Cllr Pickles has in his time in office, he will have something to boast about.

I thoroughly enjoy reading Cllr Pickles regular comments and letters and would agree whole heartedly with his views. It would appear that his latest comments have sparked a little controversy to say the least. Come on all of you, where's your sense of humour, if you can't see the tongue in cheek comments that he made regarding the "invasion" in this piece, you've lost it. Keep em rolling Cllr, I for one wish there were a few more like you! As for Cllr Crowley, Cllr Pickles pointed out that you are a junior member of the council - If you keep making what appears to be personal attacks the way you are, junior is probably what you will remain - voters don't like personal attacks! I bet you wish you had the ability for self publicity that Cllr Pickles has.

Wonder where Mr Gherkins family tree originated? Maybe not England? Isn't England deeply rooted in Germanic language with many true Englishmen having some sort of Germanic or Roman roots? Mr Dill Pickles likes to stir things and that's just what politicians do, so he does a good job of it, luckily he's not our dictator.

Ms Cath Etta wrote:
I thoroughly enjoy reading Cllr Pickles regular comments and letters and would agree whole heartedly with his views. It would appear that his latest comments have sparked a little controversy to say the least. Come on all of you, where's your sense of humour, if you can't see the tongue in cheek comments that he made regarding the "invasion" in this piece, you've lost it. Keep em rolling Cllr, I for one wish there were a few more like you! As for Cllr Crowley, Cllr Pickles pointed out that you are a junior member of the council - If you keep making what appears to be personal attacks the way you are, junior is probably what you will remain - voters don't like personal attacks! I bet you wish you had the ability for self publicity that Cllr Pickles has.

David Pickles should know that voters don't like xenophobic remarks as well.

True English. For your information my family tree orginated in Yorkshire. Luckily we have never gone in for ridiculous personal childish remarks such as Dill Pickles and Gherkins. That was all left behind in the playground years ago.

Simon - Cheam. So what's xenophobic about sticking up for your own? People like you play the "race card" to suit your own political agenda, but you are the cause of the problems in this country not the solution.

so very sorry for you mr pickles, for so many reasons. you know exactly how to rant like a schoolkid yourself. i bet you were the sort of kid who got picked on, for so many reasons (not just the silly name), and now as revenge you like to pick on others by saying childish things like you've said about the german market. can't take it when it's dished back to you, huh? it takes a "special" kind of egomanic to believe himself important enough to be a politician or defence lawyer, neither of which are well liked.

Cllr David Pickles wrote:
Simon - Cheam. So what's xenophobic about sticking up for your own? People like you play the "race card" to suit your own political agenda, but you are the cause of the problems in this country not the solution.

Actually, Mr Pickles, I'm not playing the race card but making the legitimate point that it is rather xenophobic to liken the 'German' market in the high street to two world wars fought against Germany. The link is so tenuous that it makes you look very laughable.

As for “sticking up for your own” do you not think the cause of the disgruntled market traders you misrepresent might have been better made without such asinine references to the Wars and "zee Germans"? Now their efforts will be hampered by your cheap anti-German sentiments.

The strength of the feeling in this thread is obvious in its contempt for your juvenile remarks. You donÂ’t have to hate the Germans to be proud to be British.

I visited the market with my wife yesterday and I was bowled over by how un-German it is. Even if it did matter, there was not a German accent to be heard and a stall that sells Staffordshire pottery doesn't strike me as Teutonic excess.

I think it is advisable that local politicians, such as yourself, should engage that under-used the brain before engaging that wide abused one: the mouth.

It's quite extraordinary that Cllr. Pickles feels the need to write his own letters of support in this thread under a collection of punning pseudonyms.

You do not need to be elected to speak to a journalist or write letters to the papers. You do need to be elected to speak to the right people in council meetings when such decisions are being made. A recent letter in the Guardian showed that this is something Cllr Pickles repeatedly fails to do, thus failing his constituents whilst pocketing over £700 per meeting attended.

If Cllr Pickles had got past the Bierkeller, he would have seen that the market is a German-style market run by people from Manchester. I was under the impression that we only had the one Civil War not two.

Belle Mont - very clever. Until you know the facts (and the "facts" in the Guardian regarding meetings were planted lies), then I'd advise you to stop spouting nonsense.

Look forward to seeing the truth then.

Your campaigning skills seem to be getting a little rusty if you think that the tired and emotional accusation of "spouting nonsense" aimed at your constituent at half past two in the morning will catapult you back into the council chamber, City Hall and then Parliament.

Truth? You can't handle the truth!

Cllr David Pickles wrote:
Simon - Cheam. So what's xenophobic about sticking up for your own? People like you play the "race card" to suit your own political agenda, but you are the cause of the problems in this country not the solution.

does that imply you wouldn't stick up for someone who wasn't your idea of textbook white British, councillor Pickles?

Without commenting on some of the more flippant remarks on here, what my detractors are losing sight of is our home-grown traders being treated like 2nd class citizens. Leaving aside the fact that the "German" stall-holders are not actually German (!) the point still remains that those who serve the High St all year round should have had the choice. A sense of humour would help some of you to see through the fog and grasp the real issue here.

This goes to validate my earlier point, Mr Pickles which wasn't one of the flippant remarks.

You have now acknowledged that you have done the traders a disservice with your silly remarks about the wars, thus creating the "fog" as you call it.

If you'd used responsible language rather than that of the gutter press you might have been able to avoid this flak. I'm afraid this demonstrates an abysmal lack of judgement from you.

Simon - on the contrary. This was a publicity set-up between myself and the press. The local traders had almost no notice of what was going on, and obviously the only way forward was publicity. I have no axe to grind with "foreigners" despite what some of you say on here. I'm afraid Cllr Crowley made a fool of himself and fell for the storyline completely. I succeeded in obtaining front-page, and it's highlighted the plight of our traders. Can you not see the reasoning behind this? It's not bashing "foreigners", although some of you out there would love to brand UKIP as a racist party when in fact we are not, but the whole point is the traders haven't been given any choice. My throwaway line about "invasions" was meant to be humerous and to add to the whole story. It's a pity that those out there (which probably includes you), can't ever see the humerous side of life and politics in general.

The martket is lovely. I bought a hand carved chair and a few trinkets for very little money, not overpriced at all, and the sweets are not only presented hygenically but are yummy. Everythingis very inexpensive and clean, well done to the traders. Wonderful stuff. As for people like Pickles, no one listens to him anyway, who cares what he has to say. He's a joke, he said himself, the article was a way for him to get on the front page and have a little attention he must not get in his personal life.

With reference to all the goings on in Sutton High Street concerning the German market etc, I feel I must point out the Kiddies Ride outside Woolworths has been unable to operate since August because a post box was mistakingly placed on the spot the ride goes on and despite the owners paying for a licence to trade there, the post box has not yet been moved. Imagine my horror when i saw a German Market stall on the same pitch and when i rang the council to ask where was the Kiddies ride they told me the council are trying to find another location for it to operate but it probably would not be back until after Christmas. Dosen't this seem to be convenient for the German Market? I bet the young couple who operate the ride can't wait to come back in Jauary when the high street is empty of shoppers!