Legal and General are First Independent Market Operators to Sign the Real Deal Charter in Wiltshire Tuesday 29 May 2012

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

Castle Place Indoor Market in Trowbridge is the first independent market in Wiltshire to sign up to the Real Deal Charter following the lead established by Wiltshire Council, which signed the charter for all the council-run markets last year.

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

The charter was officially signed at Castle Place Indoor Market on Tuesday, 29 May 2012.

Cabinet member for public protection, Keith Humphries, said: “The sale of counterfeit goods takes away vital trade from our many legitimate traders. This campaign will give confidence to local residents and visitors alike.

“By working together with the operators, local traders and the public we can help stamp out the trade in fake goods. These cheap imitations are always of inferior quality and in some instances the goods themselves can be dangerous.

By signing up to the charter the market, which opens six days per week, will display the Real Deal logo.

Steve Clover, the council’s head of consumer protection, added: “The Real Deal campaign will really help us to reduce the sale of counterfeit goods.

“It sends a message to those people considering trading in fake goods that it will not be tolerated in Wiltshire. Our trading standards officers already work with market officers and this demonstrates our ongoing commitment in ensuring safe, fair and legal markets across the county and protecting shoppers from counterfeit goods.”

Castle Place Centre Manager, Julie Davis, said, “I’m delighted that we are the first independent market in the county to sign up to the Real Deal. We want everyone to have complete confidence that when they buy local here they are buying quality and will get what they’ve paid for.”

Other markets in the county already signed to the charter include, Wiltshire Council operated markets and Salisbury City Council markets.

Shoppers are encouraged to report any concerns they may have regarding the sale of fake products.

To report the sale of counterfeit goods people should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040 506. People can also anonymously report counterfeiting or other illegal activity by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.