TOTTON'S monthly market and car boot sale iis facing a new threat – just weeks after civic chiefs launched the latest attempt to revive it.

The event could be axed following a row between the town council and the local community association, the two organisations that run the event.

The council has 20 members – but planning and transport committee chairman Len Harris is often the only one who helps out at the market.

He told fellow councillors: “The association says they’re doing all the work and if that continues they’ll pull the plug.

“We’re either interested in the market or we’re not – and if we’re not, it will disappear.”

Totton’s stay-at-home councillors were also criticised by Cllr George Dart, vice-chairman of the committee.

He said: “We need to either reinforce our commitment to the market or say we’re not going to bother – it’s one or the other.”

Cllr David Harrison added: “I share the fear that this may die a slow lingering death.

“We need to get our act together and support the market. If we do, there’s every chance that it could succeed.”

Town clerk Derek Biggs said only two councillors were needed each month.

It was agreed that members should be sent a list of dates for the market and asked to say which ones they could attend.

Speaking after the meeting, community association chairman Liz Winter said Cllr Harris was often the only councillor who helped out at the event.

She warned that the association was thinking of reducing the market’s opening hours or possibly pulling out altogether unless the volunteers received more support.

“We need people to collect the fees from car boot sellers and make sure that everyone is in the right place,” she said.

“The market is supposed to be a joint venture between the council and the community association but it’s a bit one-sided at the moment.”

The event, launched in the summer, is held in the war memorial car park off Salisbury Road.

Totton’s former weekly market, held at the same venue, was axed after the number of stallholders dropped to just three.

A similar attraction was staged in a nearby service road but also failed to gain the support of traders and shoppers.

Civic chiefs spent years debating the best way to revive the attraction – part of the town’s commercial scene for generations.

They eventually decided to use the original site, but on Sundays instead of Wednesdays, and hold the market only once a month.