Cheshire West and Chester Council has the following markets: Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich

Here is the Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Do you allow stall holders at your markets to sell real fur? (including small items such as knitted hats with fur bobbles, or key rings with fur trims etc.

A:  do not have a policy in place covering this subject; traders sell new goods and sellers of fur have never approached the Council to open a market stall.

The Council have no guidelines in place for selling fur clothing however market traders do not sell products of such high value, particularly new goods.

The Council allows the sale of fur. It is worrying that the Council does not seem to realise that the majority of real fur on sale at markets is very cheap, often as cheap as fake fur, and imported from places like China where animal welfare is virtually non-existent.

They have asked to see our Fur Free Markets policy to consider.

Real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Please urge the Council to ban the sale of real fur on their markets and adopt the official Fur Free Markets policy by contacting Councillor Brian Clarke, Cabinet Member – Economic Development and Infrastructure, email: brian.clarke@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk .