WISBECH Market Place is to be sold for �1 – and the new owners will even get �25,000 thrown in for improvement works.

The landmark deal was agreed by Fenland District Council Cabinet after they approved the sale-“site sold as seen”- to Wisbech Town Council on a 999 year lease.

“The transfer is almost complete,” said Fenland Council Leader Alan Melton. “It fits very well too into our policy of localism- local assets to local people.”

Negotiations have been going on for months between the district and town councils prior to last Thursday’s Cabinet meeting which heard for the first time the terms of the agreement.

Corporate director Gary Garford said the agreement followed a Cabinet meeting last July which postponed all traffic management arrangements around the market place and set in motion the transfer to the town council.

He explained that the town council will become responsible for site maintenance, future development of the market and all fairs and events held there, currently the responsibility of the district council.

Initially the district council will continue to help run the market place but the town council can opt, after a year, to do it themselves.

“The market places, its fixtures and market activities are to be transferred,” said Mr Garford. “Market trader licences and all transferable rights will be conveyed to the town council.”

However under the agreement between both councils, parking will stay free on the market place.

Fenland Council has also inserted a clause to lease it back once a year for its Christmas market – and they will get it back for a �1 should the town council ever decide to sell it.