THERE was a time when we did all our shopping at the market. Some would say we still should and perhaps they have a point. In these days of food-mile considerations, insistence on provenance and meat scares, shopping at the market has never made so much sense.

But, as with anything, change is inevitable.

For all its history, York is no exception and traders at Newgate Market have recently voiced their concerns about the council’s refurbishment plans.

Fortunately it seems the situation could soon be resolved. Stall-holders say the proposals have now been thrashed out with the council and Paul Anderson of the Newgate traders’ committee tells us the outcome of a meeting with Gill Cooper, the council’s head of culture and city centre, was a “positive” one.

However, Mr Anderson says this outcome must now be translated into reality and we agree.

More meetings are planned before the final plan is promulgated, which we welcome, because it’s vital that this refurbishment is done sympathetically.

Newgate market, with its 85 stalls, stands within Europe’s largest single pedestrianised area.

That alone makes it the heart and soul of the city.

So the council is right to invest in this refurbishment project, which, it says, reaffirms the market’s importance to the city-centre economy.

Certainly it could do with a bit of sprucing up and anything that makes the market more visible, particularly to visitors, has to be welcome.

But it is important that this facelift reflects the wishes of all who use the market from traders to shoppers. Because this is still a crucial part of York’s shopping scene, not to say the ideal place to buy fresh food.