Reading Borough Council and Town & Country Markets Join Forces to Deliver the Real Deal

Pictured left to right at the charter signing on 17 August 2012 are: Paul Evans (Trading Standards), Gerry Shears (Market Manager), Dave Gibbs (Regional Manager, Town & Country Markets), Cllr Paul Gittings, Pollen Exeter (Consumer Protection Manager) & Matthew Golledge (Trading Standards Manager).

Pictured left to right at the charter signing on 17 August 2012 are:
Paul Evans (Trading Standards), Gerry Shears (Market Manager), Dave Gibbs (Regional Manager, Town & Country Markets), Cllr Paul Gittings, Pollen Exeter (Consumer Protection Manager) & Matthew Golledge (Trading Standards Manager).

Shoppers in Reading will get the ‘real deal’ when they purchase items at the Reading Market as it has signed up to the Real Deal national markets charter.

By signing the charter, the operators of the market, Town and Country Markets, have pledged to work closely with Reading Borough Council’s trading standards team to ensure fake goods and other illicit items are not sold at the venue.

Reading Market is one of the first markets in the Thames Valley Region to display the Real Deal brand – which tells consumers that traders have signed up to a code of practice to ’self-police’ the market and take action if they spot anything suspicious.

Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Paul Gittings, said “We are committed to protecting visitors who shop at the market from counterfeit, illegal and unsafe goods. We will work with our partners and market operators to ensure that this scheme becomes a success.”

Patricia Lennon, Campaign Director for the Real Deal, welcomed Reading Market’s decision to join the Real Deal scheme, saying: “We are very pleased that Reading Council and Town & Country Markets have signed the Real Deal charter, which confirms their joint commitment to keep Reading Market free from counterfeit and other illicit goods. Displaying the Real Deal logo at the market not only provides reassurance to shoppers and traders, it also sends a strong ’keep out’ message to any dodgy dealers in counterfeit goods.”

For more information, please contact Reading Borough Council’s Trading Standards Team on 0118 9372230.