Real Deal to keep Leyland Market free of fakes

Picture caption: (L-R) Rebecca Whittaker, trader; Darren Rigby, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, Jennifer Richmond, market trader; Martin Fahy, property services manager South Ribble Borough Council; Paula Halliwell, market manager; David Scott, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, and County Councillor Mike France.

Picture caption: (L-R) Rebecca Whittaker, trader; Darren Rigby, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, Jennifer Richmond, market trader; Martin Fahy, property services manager South Ribble Borough Council; Paula Halliwell, market manager; David Scott, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards, and County Councillor Mike France.

SHOPPERS at Leyland Market can be sure they’re buying the genuine article thanks to a new campaign to stamp out sales of fake goods.

The Real Deal initiative is seeing market traders, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards service and South Ribble Borough Council unite to crack down on counterfeits which damage legitimate businesses and see criminals profit from the proceeds.

The Northcote Street market is the latest in Lancashire 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.

Mike France the county councillor for Leyland Central said: “Leyland market is a great place to visit and I’m keen on anything that can protect residents from fake goods and can help to keep our local traders’ tills ringing and Real Deal does just that by showing people that they can spend with confidence when they visit the market.

“More visitors to the market will bring more visitors to Leyland and that helps the local economy.

“The traders themselves are best placed to know what’s going on in their own market – any business caught selling fakes damages the reputation and success of the whole market and it’s in everyone’s interest to be vigilant.”

Councillor Phil Smith, South Ribble Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, leisure and healthy communities, said: “Leyland Market is really thriving – it’s fully occupied and we have traders on a waiting list for stalls.

“The market provides an environment for legitimate local businesses to trade successfully, and the Real Deal campaign will make sure it stays that way.

“Visitors can be assured that they will get a ‘real deal’ when they buy from our traders.”