On Friday morning council phoned the market secretary to say that stallholders had to be out of the park by 1.30pm on Saturday.

Most stallholders are packed up and gone by 1.30 to 2 anyway, the odd one by 2.30ish.

At about 12.30pm on Saturday, without asking the market supervisor, two council employees started to strongly urge stallholders to hurry and pack up.

Panic mode would best describe their behaviour, as they treated Moruya Country Market stallholders as interlopers.

When I asked the council employee on what authority, he ignored me and said the Granite Town Festival was a community event and donated to charity and that the Moruya Country Market lease was only until 1pm.

He was under the impression the market had been around for only five years.

He seemed oblivious to the fact that as a non-profit organisation the market donates thousands of dollars each year and that the market pays more than 75 grand a year to council in fees.

He did not want to listen, and when I strongly objected, he said, “Come and see me in my office”.

All said and done, six or seven Granite Town food stalls set up about 3pm, and the double-decker moved into the park later on.

So why was council in such huge haste and panic to move the market on?

It was uncalled for and upset everyone; a very poor show from the two council employees.

But not from the Granite Town Festival organisers, who put on a great show.

Well done to them all.

Brian Smith,  Moruya