PLANS are in the pipeline to try to revive the future of Cardigan’s annual fair day.

The traditional event at the beginning of November sees the town centre filled with market stalls alongside the funfair but the number of stalls and what’s on offer has been declining in recent years.

Question marks have been raised over its continued viability but a pilot project is being carried out this year to revive its flagging fortunes.

“We are looking at putting 11 street stalls outside the Guildhall to bring in smaller craft and gift providers from the local Cardigan area,” Cllr Clive Davies told a meeting of the town council.

“We have met with Ceredigion County Council and it has agreed to bring down the cost of the smaller pitches to £22 to try to attract the crafters to the market stalls.

“If these stalls are filled Ceredigion has also offered to find further spaces for the smaller local crafters where possible on the high street at the same lower rate.

“We have also met with Menter Aberteifi, who have agreed a hire fee for some of their stalls.

“I hope this project will be the start of better variety and quality of stalls on the high street in the years ahead.

“The standard of the fair has not been as good in recent years and we need to do something to try to turn it around and ensure it continues.

“Everyone has been complaining that the fair has been going downhill and this could be one way of trying to improve it.”

Councillors agreed to back the move by contributing £285 to the costs of providing the stalls.

Cllr Sian Maehrlein also suggested free parking would help attract visitors.

“There’s free parking all day in Carmarthen on a Sunday. Perhaps we could be able to offer that,” she added.